FK KRASNODAR STADIUM IN KRASNODAR

2020-07-13

Football can be so simple. In Krasnodar a local billionaire wanted his own brand new club – and constructed his own stadium to match. Since then, the team members of FK Krasnodar play their matches in the spectacular arena by gmp Architekten – and their first opponents on the new lawn were the team members of Schalke 04.

Sergei Nikolajewitsch Galizki became rich as a trader, is among the wealthiest Russians, and according to “Forbes magazine” holds rank 202 internationally. At the age of 40 he established his own football club and at age 50 he built himself a stadium to match. Since the proprietor of the “Magnit” chain of hypermarkets appreciates quality, he commissioned the German architectural firm of gmp Architekten – proven experts for stadiums of all types and practically dedicated to the construction of football arenas for FIFA world championships. While the stadium in Krasnodar is not part of this exclusive circle despite the World Championship in Russia, the club has hosted many international guests. This is because the Russian club has been competing in the UEFA Europa League since 2014, where they also play against German clubs and they even made it to the quarter finals once where they lost against Celta Vigo. As a very successful entrepreneur, Sergei Nikolajewitsch Galizki seldom settles for compromises. His football stadium is equally free of compromises. gmp Architekten designed a first-rate football arena for him, exclusively aimed at the needs of football fans and with the aim of creating a great extravaganza.

Bread and circus games

In ancient Rome, the people at times were no longer interested in politics, but only in “panem et circenses”. At least the building style of the resulting arena architecture has made it into the Russian metropolis. The stadium in Krasnodar not only has the same basic layout and facade structure as the Coliseum and similar amphitheatres of the Roman Empire. The architects also used the classic lightcoloured Travertine stone, which dominated most Roman buildings and now symbolically lifts up the new stadium with its fluted pilasters.

Galiseum

Wembley, Maracana, Wankdorf or Glückauf-Kampfbahn were stadiums that became semi-religious football consecration sites due to legendary games in the course of decades. However, in Krasnodar time was more limited. The stadium was intended to become a football temple right away, and since the game is actually almost religious for a true football fan, the style elements used in Krasnodar are quite appropriate. The stands’ roof is as reliable and tested as the layout and structure of the facade. The architects opted for a light ring cable design with a double-layer membrane made of fibre glass and coated in polytetrafluoroethylene (better known as “Teflon”). Underneath it, the flood-lighting and the infrared heating for the spectator stands are positioned. Even though Krasnodar is in a sub-Mediterranean climate region, it is nevertheless close to the Caucasus and there are frequently frosty days in winter. Even though the stadium concept is rather classical, the giant all-round video screen between the roof and the spectator stands is very innovative. The 33,000 spectators can see high-resolution images on 4700 square meters. This internationally one-of-a-kind feature ensures that the intense atmosphere in this pure football arena is charged even further with these video images. The architects of gmp did not build a standard stadium for Sergei Nikolajewitsch Galizki – and everyone in Krasnodar is aware of this, as they refer to it as the “Galiseum”, which is probably quite accurate in reference to its antique Roman role model.

Hörmann expertise:

Sliding doors, rolling shutters and steel doors

The drive into the stadium premises is locked with the HSS sliding gate made of sturdy steel profiles. Due to the self-supporting design almost no foundation work and guide rail fitting was required. This way, even ice, snow or heavy soiling have practically no effect on the smooth door travel. Rolling shutters DD from Hörmann are suitable for closing large door openings as well as smaller ones, in this case the sales counters of the snack stands. They are equipped with a guide channel to keep the wear of the door curtain to a minimum. The driveways to the underground garage are equipped with Hörmann rolling grilles that roll up compactly behind the lintel so that no valuable space is lost. In addition, 120 flush-closing steel doors were fitted. A combination with suitable block frames produces a flush transition between the door leaf and frame. This is why these attractive function doors are primarily found in upscale architecture.