Torfeld Süd – design description

Construction of a new stadium in southern Torfeld is expected to become a major part of entire district’s revival. This industrial area is located in a very attractive part of Aarau, but has been residentially and commercially unused. Its transformation is expected to cost CHF 170 million, of which the stadium should consume 36 million.

The concept was delivered by Burkard Meyer. The architect is known for simple, minimalistic and harmonious designs and so it is with Torfeld Süd. The stadium is visually enclosed by a rectangular concrete frame with openwork colonnade showing the bright red stands. Likewise, floodlights also form a frame instead of single masts.

As the stadium’s blueprint is limited, a shopping mall and multi-storey car park was planned underneath, assuring sufficient parking capacity for everyday use. There is no room for open-space parking lots around with three sides being limited by existing or planned buildings, while the north end runs along railway lines with only a pedestrian bridge to north Torfeld planned.

First planning application was filed back in August 2012, but since then the scheme hasn’t seen groundbreaking. Permission came in May of 2015, but market reality verified the plans negatively. HRS Real Estate, in order to finance the project, suggested dropping the shopping centre under the stadium and instead provide cross-financing from 4 residential/commercial towers around the stadium. In such form the stadium could go under construction in 2021.