VUILD has unveiled the design for the new wooden stadium set to become the future home of Fukushima United FC. Commissioned by SportX — a football club operator managing all club-related operations — the project is conceived not only as a sports facility but also as a social and cultural platform, intended to foster community participation and reaffirm, through architecture, a path of regeneration following the 2011 earthquake.
The project draws inspiration from the Japanese tradition of Shikinen Sengu, the periodic reconstruction of shrines, and introduces three guiding cycles — resources, community, and craftsmanship — which shape the stadium’s design. The structural components, made from local timber, are designed to be disassembled and reused, while the assembly process is imagined as a collective ritual, involving citizens and fans in an atmosphere reminiscent of mikoshi processions and traditional wooden structure-raising ceremonies. The initiative is complemented by reforestation programs and craft training activities aimed at passing on skills to future generations.
Fukushima’s new stadium in Japan is entirely made of wood
For the club from one of the regions most affected by environmental damage in the world, Vuild presents a project that combines innovative timber structures and sustainable practices, all inspired by the tradition of Shikinen Sengu: the community-based reconstruction of Shinto shrines.
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
Image Courtesy of VUILD
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- Romina Totaro
- 18 September 2025
The stadium is organized into four distinct volumes, each under 3,000 square meters, with a maximum of two floors and a height of 16 meters. The spaces between the volumes serve as entrances and connection points. On the ground floor, locker rooms, facilities, and food areas are located, while the second level of the main stand houses VIP areas and broadcasting booths. One of the rear stands also includes hospitality functions, with hotel rooms intended to generate supplementary revenue.
From a structural standpoint, the project proposes the use of hyperbolic paraboloid shells in laminated timber. The assembly employs small-section wooden elements arranged with progressive rotations to define curved surfaces. Above them, additional elements are tensioned in a catenary form, creating lightweight roofs capable of spanning large distances. The overall design references the steeply pitched roofs of traditional Ōuchi-juku houses, reinterpreted in a contemporary key to optimize natural lighting, ventilation, and seasonal shading.
Environmental strategies are adapted to the region’s climate, characterized by significant temperature variations: the roof geometries provide protection from summer sun and winter winds, channel breezes toward the stands, and integrate systems for collecting and reusing rainwater. In winter, accumulated snow can contribute to summer cooling, while renewable energy systems aim for the complex’s self-sufficiency. The development was supported by Arup, one of the world’s leading engineering, design, and architectural consultancy firms, which conducted digital simulations to test the effectiveness of the solutions.
The project is currently on display at Palazzo Mora, within the European Cultural Center in Venice, as part of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, where it will remain open to visitors until November 23.