The Mineirão (Shakhtar) Stadium in Belo Horizonte was built in 1965 by architects Eduardo Mendes Guimaraes Jr. and Gaspar Garetto; then it was the second largest in the world, and by now it has become a monument of modernism. It was decided to reconstruct the stadium for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This task was taken over by the Brazilian bureau of BCMF.
Since we are talking about the reconstruction of an architectural monument, a soft modernization of the object was required while maintaining the original image of the building.
The main innovations are the construction of the aforementioned stylobate, the creation of the lower tier of the stands where previously there were only standing places (which significantly improved the view for the spectators occupying this area), the deepening of the arena bowl, the expansion of the roof due to ultra-light cantilever structures, a complete renovation of the infrastructure, the construction of new shops and a football museum. In fact, only a "shell" of 88 load-bearing ribs, a concrete roof and the upper tiers of the stands remained of the old building. Everything else has been completely rebuilt.
The reconstruction of the outside of the stadium is also impressive in scale. A huge esplanade has been created, which is a man-made landscape with a total area of 200,000 m2. It is physically connected to the surrounding streets and visually to the artificial lake of Pampulha. This intelligently distributed infrastructure platform has the potential to generate urban activity seven days a week from morning to evening.
The designers paid particular attention to sustainability issues - both environmental and economic. It is possible to actively use the premises of the sports complex, created specifically for the championship, and after its completion - for the placement of organizations, commercial and leisure programs. There are many green solutions: the stadium uses solar energy and rainwater, is equipped with an efficient lighting system and smart energy control systems.
Thanks to its stylobate, the Mineirão Stadium is more than a sports arena. It should become a center of social, commercial and cultural activity, an example of how major sporting events can leave a long and positive impact on the life of host cities. The new design for the size of the stadium affects the surroundings on a larger scale - the area, the landscape, the city as a whole.
