AFL Architects will work alongside Aires Mateus and Gonçalves Vieira Cruz on the redevelopment of the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon.
The stadium is set to undergo a “sensitive and innovative redesign” to ensure that the venue continues to serve as a premier destination for football, rugby and athletics.
Last January, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) launched a tender process to secure a design team for the redevelopment of the Estádio Nacional, and AFL Architects has now announced that it will form part of the team.
The stadium is located in the municipality of Oeiras, in the southwestern part of Lisbon District. It first opened in 1944 and remains the historic home of the Taça de Portugal final.
AFL Architects said that respecting the heritage of the site through its topography will be central to “recapturing the essence of the original design”. The proposed project will extend the stadium into a nearby slope, embedding new elements into the terrain while suspending the redesigned roof above the hillside.
The new roofline will complement the central complex, including the Honour Stand and the Colonnades. The construction system is defined by a Pratt truss structure supported by four strategically braced points.
The project is set to cost €25m (£21m/$25.6m) and will see the capacity of the stadium slightly reduced to 36,388. The new-look venue will include VIP and VVIP lounges, state-of-the-art media facilities, enhanced accessibility and improved sightlines for fans.
The FPF officially presented the project to the Portuguese Architects Association during an event held yesterday (Monday).
FPF president Fernando Gomes said: “Today we celebrate an important milestone in the rehabilitation of the Estádio Nacional, a space that transcends mere sporting functionality and is inscribed in the collective memory of all Portuguese people. As I have mentioned on previous occasions, the Estádio Nacional is not just a sports facility. It is a symbol of a rich history that is part of the identity of football and sport in our country.”
Plans for the redevelopment of the stadium were first announced in July 2023, following an agreement between the Municipality of Oeiras, the FPF, the Portuguese Institute of Youth and Sports, the Portuguese Athletics Federation and the Portuguese Rugby Federation.
Last month, AFL Architects was commissioned to design King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, which will be a host venue during Saudi Arabia’s staging of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will have a capacity of 45,700 and will be located to the north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.
