Varzim FC

Sports

Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal

One Gesture, Two Volumes

The new stadium for Varzim Sport Club develops from a continuous architectural gesture that brings together sporting infrastructure, public space and urban life in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Inspired by the movement of Atlantic waves, its curved geometry connects different building volumes and establishes a transition between the scale of the stadium and that of the surrounding city.

Rooted in the maritime identity of Póvoa de Varzim, the project draws on a landscape shaped by generations of fishing communities.

The design begins with a single continuous line. Through successive sectional transformations, this initial gesture evolves to accommodate the architectural programme beneath the roof, articulate different building volumes and create public space at ground level.

The curved timber elements rise beyond the roofline and follow the rounded edges of the three wings.

As they turn with the building, their repetition creates a succession of vertical lines that changes the perception of the facade from different viewpoints. The depth between the timber framework and the glazing reinforces its sculptural character, bringing the individual elements together into a continuous composition.

The form of the building originates in a principle of convergence.

Its footprint was developed through successive geometric adjustments, increasing the length of the facade to maximise views and respond to solar orientation. This configuration brings together distinct orientations within a single composition, establishing the geometry that the external timber structure follows.

The three wings converge in a triangular foyer, forming the central point of arrival and circulation.

Defined by an equilateral triangle, this space connects the restaurant, multipurpose room and access to the guest accommodation. When the doors to the adjoining areas are opened, the foyer becomes an extension of these spaces, allowing movement between them and creating a continuous spatial sequence. On the upper floors, central corridors follow the geometry of the wings and meet at their intersection, where a rooflight introduces natural light and marks the connection between level

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