Abstract:
The thesis investigates the application of modular architectural principles towards the development of an adaptive and multifunctional stadium that actively resists the widespread destiny of underuse and abandonment that usually befalls most largescale sports facilities after their signature events. Placed within the context of the planned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the research seeks to redefine the stadium not only as a sports facility but as a multipurpose urban resource that can function and adapt during its lifespan. Large stadiums tend to be abandoned or underutilized because they are single purpose and poorly integrated with the rhythms of daily urban life. This thesis answers back by suggesting a stadium that can physically and functionally change through modular and prefabricated building systems. The method enables structural and spatial elements such as seating modules, service cores, façades, and roofs to be put together, disassembled, reassembled, or repositioned in response to changing needs.
The stadium is envisioned to accommodate international football and athletics events, in addition to conforming to accommodate local tournaments, concerts, academic programs, training facilities, offices, and retail spaces. The spatial composition features a steel frame structure for carrying stackable modular units, aluminium fins
as secondary skin for dynamic shading and identity, and a panelized roof system to ensure construction flexibility. A committed sportsman spine provides protected internal movement, with the front public plaza and riverfront sports zone stimulating the site outside matchdays.
The study incorporates Building Information Modelling (BIM) to model modular configurations and assess spatial changes. Proximity analysis, zoning analyses, and conformance with local bye-laws enhance the viability and context-sensitivity of the design. By global and Indian case studies, the thesis showcases precedents and lessons learnt in modular stadium and event design.
In the end, the project shows that modular design is more than just an engineering technique but a durable design ethos—one that makes the stadium itself relevant, financially sound, and publicly interested well beyond the span of a single sporting competition.
Keywords: Modular Architecture, Adaptive Design, Ahmedabad, Prefabrication, Versatility, Urban Activation, Multifunctional Sports Venue.
