Arup redesigns Stadio Artemio Franchi of Italian football club Fiorentina

Arup is redesigning ACF Fiorentina's home ground stadium, Stadio Artemio Franchi, and is surrounding area. The upgrade of the stadium is focused on improving the fan experience, according to firm sources.

ACF Fiorentina, based in Florence, Tuscany, is one the Italy’s premier football clubs. The club, which has been around since a merger in 1926 and was reformed in 2002, has its home ground at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. A stadium has existed on its home ground since 1931, and has, in the intervening years seen a number of renovations, it most recently had a capacity for around 47,000 people.

The old stadium, which was last renovated in 1990 for the FIFA World Cup, is again in line for an upgrade, as part of a wider re-development of the 48 hectare area in which the club stands. The upgrade further includes public spaces, an interchange carpark and a shopping mall.

Engineering consultancy Arup was hired to perform the masterwork for the upgrade project, leveraging the firm’s Milan, Italy, team’s broad engineering, architecture, design and consultancy expertise. Inspiration for the design of the upgraded area was taken from the local environment, which itself lies close to the city airport as well as key city landmarks, including the Cathedral and Giotto belltower.

In addition, the built environment is designed to support the wider fan experience, prior to, during and after the sporting event. The firm says that it has leveraged a number of technological solutions for the development of the stadium, including simulations to maximise the line of sight from across the stadium, as well as virtual reality simulations to get a better feel of how the stadium will work in practice for its audience.

James Finestone, Lead Architect, Arup, says "We have embraced this exciting privilege and acknowledge the great responsibility in designing this stadium, to make the best possible experience for the Fiorentina fans and to make the most beautiful and well considered building that we can for the City of Florence."

Commenting on the firm’s relationship with the sporting club, Luca Buzzoni, Project Leader at Arup adds, "We have collaborated with Fiorentina for the last two years to define a detailed brief, specifically built on their desires and expectations. We have therefore designed a stadium that reflects the local history and landscape in a modern way and provides a great and comfortable new home for the team and its fans".