Laje Football Field

The project consists, in short, of a retaining wall. A precise L-shaped wall that defines and enables a flat football pitch on a steep slope. Support facilities are located underground, behind an arcade. The entrance is made by a ramp that cuts into the hill and gently descends to a covered atrium at pitch level, giving access to a continuous bench. There are no spectators in second row. On the upper level, the new plateau offers an informal view of the field, functioning as a public viewpoint.

Built in reinforced concrete with iron oxide pigment incorporated into its composition, the retaining wall merges with the rocky outcrop, which also becomes part of the design. This blurs the boundaries between architecture, structure, landscape, and the natural terrain itself. Located in a social housing neighborhood, this project was designed to prolong public space to its surroundings using durable, low-maintenance materials like colored concrete and granite stone.

As a public project, costs control shaped the raw, honest design — nothing is added to the exposed tinted concrete. Only the changing rooms use tiles and paint over ordinary brick. Without a conventional roof, technical solutions were carefully addressed. Hot-water heat pumps machines are hidden beneath a staircase with open steps for ventilation, while inside air intakes and exhausts run through the continuous upper-level bench. At pitch level, the spectators remain shaded from the strong sun after midday, as well as protected from the northwest trade winds.