The proposal has a clear architectural concept while fitting naturally into the urban context, including the traffic layout. The professional jury of the international competition for the New Bazaly Stadium recognized the Austrian-Czech design by Vienna-based studio querkraft, developed in close collaboration with the Czech engineering company OBERMEYER Helika. Out of nine finalists, the design took second place – right behind the winning proposal from the Spanish studio L35 Arquitects.
According to the jury, querkraft’s design makes smart use of the natural topography of the former quarry and the sloping street. The strategic placement of the main entrance and the upper concourse, located roughly 18 meters above the pitch, was also highlighted. The jury was particularly impressed by the generous viewing platform offering panoramic views of the entire city — a feature that could turn the stadium into an attractive destination for walks and outings, even outside match days.
“What I personally appreciate about querkraft’s design is how light and effortless the stadium feels despite its scale, and how naturally it sits within the site. They did a tremendous job! For our team, the most significant contribution was the traffic concept, recognised by the professional jury. Given the complexity of the conditions, it was a crucial factor for the project’s success,“ says Jan Korbut, MBA, Head of our Building Design Studio.
For querkraft, this was their very first experience designing a football stadium. Their final concept — a multi-level icon wrapped in aluminium slats — elegantly blends sporting energy with the character of Ostrava’s urban landscape.
According to architect Jakob Dunkl, “The green roof was highlighted by the jury as a unique and remarkable element. It brings several benefits to the surrounding area: the extensive sedum-covered surface provides significant rainwater retention, while its lush greenery helps cool the local microclimate. The roof also reduces both light and noise emissions, improving comfort for the nearby neighbourhood. In addition, the roof shelters the concourse, which is accessible from street level even outside match days, allowing the stadium to become an active part of daily urban life.“
The approximately 14,000 m2² of photovoltaic surface on the inner part of the roof area provide and emission-free electricity.
What was OBERMEYER Helika responsible for?
• traffic & mobility concept
• electrical systems concept
• consultation on technical layout & equipment
• fire safety
• cost estimation
querkraft
The Austrian studio querkraft has been active since 1998 and has delivered more than a hundred projects in Austria and abroad. Their work includes the Liaunig Museum, the Austrian Pavilion at EXPO Dubai, Vienna’s car-free IKEA store, the HAK social housing complex, and the expansion of the Linz university campus. The studio has received numerous major awards, from a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Award to the Austrian State Prize for Architecture, the City of Vienna Prize, and sustainability awards for both the car-free IKEA and the Austrian Pavilion at EXPO Dubai. In 2004, querkraft represented Austria at the Venice Biennale, and their work continues to be exhibited internationally — in Venice, Tokyo, Shanghai, Ljubljana, Boston, Bristol, and beyond.
You can find more details about the proposal, including visualizations, here.
