Estadio Nicolás Chahuán Nazar – design description

A brand new stadium in Chile's La Calera is being built in the place of its predecessor, arguably one of the worst stadia in professional football in this Pacific country. The successor will differ in every single respect, starting from the field. Synthetic instead of natural and rotated 90 degrees to match the north-south axis, it will also no longer have a running track.

The above changes enabled space savings and creation of additional green recreational areas and landscaping west of the stadium. The stadium itself will become an extension of the green spaces as its side stands will see creation of green embankments, decorating cascade stairs running along each stand.

This original idea by Guarello Arquitectos sees the creation of a rounded, almost circular steel frame around the field, providing support for the modest canopy and enveloping enough room to erect concrete stands within it. Each independent, the side stands will have two tiers and the third south end will be an open terrace for more vocal fans. Interestingly, the third one was not part of the original competition design, it was added later.