Sporting design

Stadiums, like other large public meeting areas, do not exist separate from their surroundings. They form an integral part of the landscape, influencing not just the look and feel of an area, but also how individuals interact with it. Executive looks at two stadiums — both past their prime — that display contrasting approaches to the use of space. Sidon’s large, iconic stadium expresses separation — not just from the physical city, but from its residents as well. Meanwhile, Beirut’s smaller Municipal Stadium has fallen even further into disrepair, but is an integral part of its neighborhood. Residents can watch games from their apartments which overlook the stadium and can enter the facilities to run, walk, play or just hang out. Seafront Sidon Built on the old municipal stadium for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, the Sidon International Stadium is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks — but its design echoes another