Kajzerica City Stadium
project, Zagreb, 2008.

The city stadium Kajzerica in Novi Zagreb represents a new landmark in the city.
The stadium, which seats more than 50.000 spectators, is located on an elevated plateau next to the sports and recreational zone of the racetracks and it dominates the surrounding area, the green zone of Sava and Bundek. The stadium is visible from all surrounding areas on both sides of the Sava River.
The coverage area is divided into three zones, consistent with the project's program, and into three phases, consistent with the financial framework of construction.
The northern zone, the first building zone, enables the undisturbed building of the stadium, independent of the surrounding settlements, parcels and Zagrebački Velesajam. The middle zone, the second building phase is crucial for the development of the stadium because this is where different services will be situated, as well as the infrastructural elements used by all three zones (public garages, bus parking and similar). The southern zone, i.e. the third building phase, encompasses the whole area of Velesajam and all of its buildings. It is for the construction of new businesses, commercial and residential buildings as well as a new commercial center. Within the newly formed cassettes - "blocks" there will be hotels, a congress center, business centers and obligatory residential areas. Integration of these elements ensures livelihood of the new center and brings a long-awaited downtown feeling and an opportunity for socialization to Novi Zagreb.
The inspiration for the circular arena came from several suitable forms; the so-called Magnus effect, one of the most difficult and attractive moves in soccer which occurs when a ball changes its course, the name of the neighborhood "kajzerica", which is a name for a certain kind of a bun whose shape is reflected in the stadium. In the context of a contemporary sports arena, this design evokes the saying from ancient times about "bread and circuses".