Santo Domingo Zanatepec, Mexico – December 18, 2024
Aidia Studio, an international design practice, has transformed a sports complex in Oaxaca, Mexico, by constructing a striking grandstand and locker room facility for a football field. The project forms part of a larger development by the Secretariat of Agrarian, Land, and Urban Development (SEDATU) aimed at enhancing community infrastructure in the region.
Blending Design with Natural Context
The grandstand, located within the 14-acre Deportivo Zanatepec complex, reflects the natural beauty of its surroundings, incorporating earth tones, mango trees, and architectural forms inspired by the Sierra Madre de Chiapa mountain range nearby.
“[We intended to] marry the earthy tones of the land, the lush colours of the fruit tree plantations and the inspiring mountainous backdrop with an architecture evoking site-specificity and to strike a balance between mass and lightness,” Aidia Studio explained.
The project embraces the site’s context by combining heavy pigmented concrete with a lightweight modular roof structure that mirrors the mountain’s angles.
Structural Features and Functionality
The new facility spans 6,973 square metres (75,056 square feet), featuring a two-level design. The ground floor, built from pigmented concrete, houses two team locker rooms with field access, public restrooms, and concession areas. Concrete elements were detailed with horizontal board-formed lines, stamped parquet block textures, and smooth seating areas.
A portico runs along the eastern side, shaded by parota wood slats, connecting service areas with pivoting doors and offering shade for visitors. Above, symmetrical stairs and ramps lead to a grandstand that can accommodate 400 spectators.
The roof structure comprises hyperbolic paraboloids, combining geometric efficiency with visual elegance.
“This geometric configuration provides rigidity and lightness at the same time, providing unobstructed views towards the field in front and the basketball court in the back,” the Aidia Studio team noted.
Seismic-Resilient Design
Given the region’s seismic activity, Aidia Studio incorporated a design that ensures structural stability. The roof is supported by triangular-shaped trusses and diagonal bracing, allowing it to appear as though it “effortlessly hovers” over the grandstand while ensuring safety during seismic events.
To contrast the heavy concrete base, the design incorporates white ironwork railings and gates, blending functional and aesthetic considerations.
Community-Oriented Additions
In addition to the grandstand, Aidia Studio added key features to enhance the sports complex, including:
- A 400-metre athletics track around the football field
- A one-kilometre running path along the perimeter
- Children’s play areas
- Dedicated zones for calisthenic workouts
These facilities are part of a broader SEDATU initiative to build community-centric infrastructure across Mexico.
Broader Design Approach
Aidia Studio has been involved in other notable projects in Oaxaca, including a community centre with vaulted roofs and a perforated concrete block façade. The approach of pairing concrete bases with lightweight roofing is echoed in projects like the baseball stadium in Jálpa de Méndez, designed by Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica, which features monumental concrete canopies instead of lightweight metal.