Fukushima United FC has announced plans for a groundbreaking new timber stadium in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, designed in collaboration with architecture startup VUILD. The innovative 5,000-seat venue will be the country's first circular timber stadium concept, serving as a model for sustainable and community-driven architecture. The project holds special significance as it will be built in a region that continues to carry the memory of the devastating 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster, positioning the stadium as a powerful symbol of recovery and resilience.
VUILD's design maintains a human-scale form while accommodating 5,000 spectators through an innovative approach that avoids the traditional dominant main stand structure. Instead, the design circulates a cross-section equivalent to a two-story house and divides the stadium into four volumes, each featuring its own entrance. This circular design concept reflects the team's commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible venue that integrates seamlessly with its community surroundings.
Central to the stadium's construction is the use of timber sourced exclusively from local forests, with laminated wood forming the structural framework. All components have been engineered specifically for disassembly and reuse, embodying VUILD's circular design philosophy where materials are cycled back into use rather than discarded as waste. This approach draws inspiration from Japan's ancient tradition of Shikinen Sengu, the ritual rebuilding of shrines at regular intervals, translating this cultural practice into three modern cycles: resources, community, and craftsmanship.
The stadium's distinctive roofscape pays homage to the region's architectural heritage, specifically echoing the steep thatched houses of Ōuchi-juku, a historic post town in Fukushima. To achieve the necessary six-meter spans of the stadium's structure, the design employs hyperbolic paraboloid shells formed from small cross-section timber members. These innovative shells enable cantilevered roofs in the short direction and long spans across the main axis, while timber members suspended in catenary form are layered above the shell to create the triangular roof profile.
Construction of the stadium is envisioned as a participatory community act, with structural elements designed to be raised collectively in a manner that echoes the ceremonial timber-raising rituals deeply embedded in Japanese tradition. This festive construction method transforms the building process into both a symbolic act of recovery and a technical achievement, fostering community engagement and pride. The team plans to organize reforestation programs, woodworking education initiatives, and participatory construction activities to ensure that skills and resources regenerate alongside the stadium itself.
The design incorporates sophisticated passive energy strategies specifically tailored to Fukushima's basin climate. The roof form has been carefully devised to provide essential shade from strong summer sun while offering shelter from harsh winter winds. Facade geometries are strategically shaped to allow cooling breezes during warmer months and provide insulation during winter periods. The stadium also features integrated water and snow management systems, with rainfall collection, filtration, and reuse capabilities, while stored winter snow will help regulate summer cooling needs.
These comprehensive environmental measures significantly reduce reliance on mechanical systems and support energy circulation rooted in the site's natural seasonal rhythms. Alongside the material cycles and climate-responsive design features, the stadium incorporates renewable power generation systems with the ambitious goal of achieving complete energy self-sufficiency. Advanced energy storage systems will ensure continuity of supply, advancing the project's goal of meeting the rigorous Living Building Challenge, recognized as one of the most stringent international environmental standards in sustainable architecture.
