Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup: The Latest Architecture and News

In these hypothetical designs entitled "Casa Futebol", Architects Axel de Stampa and Sylvain Macaux of 1Week1Project have proposed a reappropriation of Brazil's World Cup venues by inserting housing units of approximately 105 square meters into the existing structures. The designs are tailored to each stadium, allowing them to continue to operate smoothly, with part of the money raised by ticket revenue used to finance the construction and maintenance of dwellings. By either replacing part of the stands with the prefabricated units or by occupying the external facade, Casa Futebol adds a human scale to these monumental buildings.

Read on after the break for all the proposals

ESTADIO ARENA PANTANAL / CUIABÁ by soy502 on Sketchfab

Last year, we featured a post about Sketchfab, the online platform that allows users to display their detailed 3D models through a browser display. Digital models can be uploaded to Sketchfab in over 27 file formats, from .3ds to .dwg, and are viewed online; downloading them is not required. Since our last post, Sketchfab has only grown in popularity, with users from multiple disciplines all over the world uploading their digital work for display. One such user is Soy502. An informal Guatemalan news website, Soy502 has uploaded models of eight of the twelve stadiums that will host FIFA World Cup matches in Brazil this year. These include Das Dunas Stadium, Arena Amazonia Stadium, and Mineirão Stadium. See them, as well as five others, in intimate three-dimensional detail after the break!

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In this article, which originally appeared on the AIArchitect, Sara Fernández Cendón discusses the opportunities and challenges for US architects who are taking advantage of Brazil's infrastructure development boom, particularly in the wake of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Until Brazil was selected to host the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympic Games in 2016, only three countries had hosted both events back-to-back. Successful bids for either event are usually equal parts proof that the country already has what it takes and a promise that it will do whatever else necessary to make things run smoothly.

In Brazil’s case, the “promise” part has generated a handful of projects for architectural firms around the world; Populous is responsible for conceptual design a stadium in the city of Natal, for example. And some observers believe that World Cup building delays could generate a rush of last-minute opportunities for foreign construction professionals. But even if these two headline-grabbing events haven’t been fully planned and designed by foreigners new to Brazil, the country is evolving into an emerging market for American architects, built on its intense thirst for upgraded commercial and transit infrastructure.

Led by UK housing minister Mark Prisk, architects from five high-profile British practices - Haworth Tompkins, Foster & Partners, Amanda Levete Architects, Avanti Architects and de Matos Ryan - have embarked on a week-long visit to Brazil in search of major infrastructure opportunities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. The trip is part of the UKBrasil Season, a six-month series of dynamic and engaging projects designed to showcase the best of British business, culture, science and innovation in Brazil and become the largest post-Olympic legacy project in the world.

Mark Prisk stated: “Brazilian companies in these cities are actively looking for fast-track construction systems, innovative building materials and low carbon solutions to meet current and future demand, not only in preparation for hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games but also to compete in the country’s many major infrastructure projects.

More after the break...