Gaziantep Arena – construction description

Designed in 2012, the stadium in northern outskirts of Gaziantep entered construction in 2013, following the selection of May and Egemen Inşaat as contractors. Preparatory work began in May and actual construction supervened in late August.

Initially two years were expected enough for the project but this time frame proved insufficient. Structurally it almost went along the plan. One by one, each stand was raised as part of a massive monolithic structure (in this order: west, south, east and north) and by the end of 2015 all of them were even covered.

However, following installation and furnishing works lasting all of 2016, opening was only possible in January of 2017. And it was a bitter one with only a third of all seats occupied and the home side losing to Antalyaspor 0:3.

The double-tiered stands were created with roughly 36,000 people in mind, though with some room for expansion. however, this compact seating bowl is fairly standard when compared to the original approach used outside.

Utilising only simple, cheap and already well known elements, Bahadir Kul Architects managed to create an original design. The stadium was covered with strips of membrane and then with a geometric skeleton covered in composite panels. Coloured black and red, these represent the colours of Gaziantepspor and allow the stadium to change colours as the beholder passes by.