The "Pedreira" - Parque Norte, Monte Castro, parish of Dume in Braga
The Braga Municipal Stadium, also known as the "Pedreira", is a football stadium located in the former parish of Dume, in the city of Braga, northern Portugal.
This stadium was created by the Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto Moura (Pritzker Prize 2011) and the Portuguese engineer Rui Furtado (from the company afaconsult), it is located next to the urban park located on the slope of Monte Castro, on the outskirts of the urban area of Braga, facing the Cávado River valley.
This stadium was created by the Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto Moura (Pritzker Prize 2011) and the Portuguese engineer Rui Furtado (from the company afaconsult), it is located next to the urban park located on the slope of Monte Castro, on the outskirts of the urban area of Braga, facing the Cávado River valley.
Stadium construction and classification
The stadium is currently used by Sporting Clube de Braga and has a capacity of 30. 286 seats with only two side benches, the tops of the stadium are made up of rock amphitheaters on the hillside.
The cover lets in natural light, preserving the lawn and what is around it.
This architectural and civil engineering work was awarded the Secil Prize in 2004 (Architecture Category), and in 2005 (Civil Engineering Category), a prize that distinguishes every two even-numbered years and every two odd-numbered years, the most significant architectural and engineering works carried out in that period.
The Braga Stadium was built for Euro 2004 and is considered one of the most notable engineering works in the world and its beauty was praised by former president Barack Obama when he awarded the Pritzker Prize.
This year it hosted 2 games, the Braga Municipal Stadium is also known as “Pedreira” because one of the stands, Poente, was built in the pre-existing quarry which allows the stadium to be part of the environment that surrounds it, making it unique.
The stadium's roof proved to be the biggest challenge of the entire project, as it is connected by steel cables that are 3.75 meters apart.
Another peculiarity is the fact that there are 2 floors below the pitch: on one of the floors spectators can move between stands and on the other there is an underground car park.
The Braga Municipal Stadium is, at a sporting level, probably the most iconic work of national architecture and engineering.
The cover lets in natural light, preserving the lawn and what is around it.
This architectural and civil engineering work was awarded the Secil Prize in 2004 (Architecture Category), and in 2005 (Civil Engineering Category), a prize that distinguishes every two even-numbered years and every two odd-numbered years, the most significant architectural and engineering works carried out in that period.
The Braga Stadium was built for Euro 2004 and is considered one of the most notable engineering works in the world and its beauty was praised by former president Barack Obama when he awarded the Pritzker Prize.
This year it hosted 2 games, the Braga Municipal Stadium is also known as “Pedreira” because one of the stands, Poente, was built in the pre-existing quarry which allows the stadium to be part of the environment that surrounds it, making it unique.
The stadium's roof proved to be the biggest challenge of the entire project, as it is connected by steel cables that are 3.75 meters apart.
Another peculiarity is the fact that there are 2 floors below the pitch: on one of the floors spectators can move between stands and on the other there is an underground car park.
The Braga Municipal Stadium is, at a sporting level, probably the most iconic work of national architecture and engineering.
