The Lužánky Eye
The Lužánky Eye is a velodrome and athletics arena designed to provide a state-of-the-art facility for Czech cycling, hosting international competitions while contributing to the revitalisation of a historic sports campus. The pebble-like curved design integrates into its parkland surroundings while its skin is designed to produce energy, resulting in an efficient and sustainable design.
- Location
- Brno, Czech Republic
- Status
- Competition
- Year
- 2024
- Surface
- 20000 m²
- Budget
- 1,195,217,800 CZK
- Client
- City of Brno
- Programmes
- Auditorium, Sports
- Themes
- Architecture, Leisure, Public
Located on the campus of the former Lužánky Stadium, once home to Brno’s main football club, the project aims to re-establish the site’s role as an active sports hub while preserving the qualities of the adjacent Planýrka Park. This was achieved through a compact, curved volume that minimises its footprint and nestles into the topography of the site to respect the surrounding greenery and existing pathways.
The project hosts both cycling and athletics tracks on a main, raised level, with all support facilities, including warm-up areas, athlete changing rooms, and service spaces, in a plinth level below. This raised approach avoids the need for a basement that is typical in velodrome designs, reducing the amount of concrete required and therefore reducing the project’s embodied carbon emissions.
The building’s skin is conceived as an energy-generating surface, featuring a combination of photovoltaic shingles and full-size solar panels to offset operational energy use. A ribbon window wraps around the entire arena, optimised for adequate lighting conditions while preventing glare for athletes.
Rather than aligning with the orientation of the neighbouring road, the building is rotated slightly on the site to create a plaza space at its main entrance. Here, and at a secondary entrance from the park, the ribbon window stretches downwards to welcome spectators inside.
The velodrome has capacity for 1000 seated spectators, with an asymmetrical seating arrangement – a larger spectator stand on one side of the track with a smaller stand, suited for serving as a press or VIP stand, on the other. A walkway around the entire ensemble, at the level of the ribbon window, provides simple and efficient access while doubling as space for further standing spectators.
Gallery
Credits
- Architect
- Founding partner in charge
- Director