Stadio Artemio Franchi – design description

On June 18, 2021, the Florence authorities launched a competition to design the redevelopment of Stadio Artemio Franchi. Out of 31 concepts, eight were shortlisted for the final phase of the competition on October 13, 2021. On March 7, 2022, the results were announced at the Palazzo Vecchio, and the winning concept was that of architects from the Arup studio, led by David Hirsch.

The concept had to meet a number of specific conditions. According to the Ministry of Culture, the existing D-shaped layout of the stands was to be retained, as well as the external spiral staircase and the marathon tower. The interests of the football club required the stands to be brought closer to the pitch, while maintaining the capacity of at least 40,000 spectators and roofing the entire audience.

Built between 1930 and 1932 to a design by Pier Luigi Nervi, the stadium has become internationally renowned for its lean, bare reinforced concrete construction, and the concept of the cantilevered canopy over the main stand is considered a breakthrough.

The redevelopment project involves the construction of new stands behind the goals, closer to the pitch, which will be connected to the existing structure. The existing canopy of the main stand will be retained, and the remaining stands, with a small gap in the area of the marathon tower, will be covered with a flat metal canopy, not interfering with the city skyline, and covered with photovoltaic panels. The roof will also cover the spaces that will be created between the old and new stands behind the goals; these will be adapted respectively for an auditorium and a museum.

As part of the project, the area behind the eastern stand of the stadium will also be rebuilt, where two buildings with spaces for commercial use will be constructed. These buildings will be covered with lawn and other vegetation, thus creating an area of greenery.

Work is due to start in autumn 2023 and be completed in 2026, just in time for Fiorentina's centenary. The project is estimated to cost €190 million, of which €137.5 million is expected to be spent on the stadium itself.