Stunning stadiums of the world

The sporting arena is the modern equivalent of a monument, the Holy Grail of an architect’s fantasy. The brief is simple: Make a spellbinding container for the sportsperson’s soaring ambition. These b

Feb 02, 2016, 06:00 IST1 min

1/3

Portugal, Braga Estádio Municipal De Braga Enormous rock moving processes added to the costs but the result is worth the spectacle: A gem of a stadium carved out of a mountainside quarry (Monte Castro) that looks out on to the city of Braga. The stadium is an extension of the mountain. Behind the goal at one end are the rock walls of the quarry and at the other is an open view of the cit

Image by Ben Radford / Getty Images

2/3

Singapore, Marina Bay The Float Simply put, it’s the world’s largest floating stage, located on the waters of the Marina Reservoir, in Marina Bay, Singapore. The idea was conceived by the organising committee of the Singapore National Day Parade. Made entirely of steel, the float on Marina Bay measures 120 by 83 metres. The platform can bear up to 1,070 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of

Image by Getty Images

3/3

England, London Aquatic Centre From sculptural curves to a skyline framed by the sweeping roof, this centre—described by Jacques Rogge, former International Olympic Committee president, as a “masterpiece”—was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid in 2004. This indoor facility is equipped with two 50-metre swimming pools and a 25-metre diving pool with sliding booms and

Image by Corbis