Past, Present, Future of the Multipurpose Use of Infrastructure

One action that must be undertaken for the sustainable development of urban environments is the multipurpose use of infrastructure . This refers to the capacity of a single space or building to be used for various functions or activities, thereby maximizing its efficiency and benefit for the community. This practice has become increasingly relevant due to the need to optimize resources and promote sustainable development.

I like to remember, by way of analogy, how cathedrals  were used in the Middle Ages. Cathedrals were buildings of great importance in society and had their primary functionality in religious functions and serving as the home of the bishop. But this was not their only function. Being located in densely populated urban areas, cathedrals also served other purposes that maximized their utility.

Cathedrals were a physical manifestation of the Church’s power and wealth in medieval society. They were impressive and magnificent architectural constructions that demonstrated the importance of the Church in people's lives.

Some cathedrals became important pilgrimage destinations due to the presence of sacred relics or saints' shrines.

Cathedrals often had attached schools that became centers of education in the Middle Ages. Canons and clergy from the cathedral participated in teaching and studying theology, philosophy, and other academic fields.

Cathedrals were also homes to a community of clergy and other religious individuals who served in the cathedral. In addition to the bishop, there were canons and priests responsible for religious services and the spiritual well-being of the local community.

But most importantly, cathedrals had a social and cultural function. They served as gathering places for social and cultural events. Festivals, sacred music concerts, and other cultural activities were celebrated within these impressive buildings. They also provided shelter for travelers and the poor.

In summary, cathedrals played a central role in religious, cultural, educational, and social life in the Middle Ages, and their presence and significance in the society of that time were immense. Their use was not limited to a single purpose; they were multipurpose urban infrastructures.

Today, the clearest example of infrastructures that can and should have this sense could be the emblematic sports stadiums located within the urban cores of cities.

Large stadiums have, to some extent, become the grand temples of modern times. They are complex buildings equipped with state-of-the-art technology and architectural designs that make them landmarks in cities and even in the countries where they are located. However, the significant technical and economic effort involved in their construction often does not correspond, in most cases, to coherent operation and exploitation for the investments made. Many stadiums are conceived almost exclusively for hosting sports events, making it impossible to carry out alternative activities or events, limiting their use to a few days a year. We can say that many modern stadiums are large containers without content, underutilized by their owners or operators, representing a missed opportunity to generate economic income through the realization of events and activities beyond sports, without neglecting the space and private public service to citizens.

Stadiums could be conceived as urban dynamizer centers, bringing together social activities and events. Large cities could hold massive events in their urban centers in a safe and periodic manner. Medium and small cities would be able to hold fairs, exhibitions, or multi sport events in a single building, with the savings that this entails.

The location of many sports stadiums in the city center makes them perfect for multipurpose use, and these infrastructures have become true meeting centers of cities. However, their primary sports function, for which they were designed in most cases, limits their use and exploitation to alternative activities, such as concerts, fairs, conventions, or other sports events.

The use of stadiums is generally limited to hosting sports competitions every two weeks to avoid damaging the playing field due to use for other purposes. It is outside the sports season when these centers can host other types of activities.

Is it really impossible to combine sports activity with alternative events in football stadiums? To answer this question, “Hypogea” was born. Hypogea is the fully automated retractable natural turf pitch system created by Sener and used in the renovation of Bernabeu Stadium of Real Madrid. Hypogea allows stadiums to transform into leisure and business centers, new multifunctional urban spaces capable of hosting all kinds of alternative events beyond sports, any or every day of the year.

The system allows the playing field to be retracted into an underground chamber using hydraulic systems and stored while maintaining the turf. By freeing up the central space of the playing field, a large area —      of around 10,000m2 — is available to carry out any other type of activity or event, representing a considerable advance in the stadium's commercial strategy, actively transforming it into a multifunctional venue. There is no need to wait for the sports season to end or the time to replace the turf, which would make the continuation of games unfeasible.

With the Hypogea system, which can be implemented in any stadium in the world regardless of its condition or location, stadium owners and operators can generate additional income to increase the competitiveness of their teams while providing cities with a modern and versatile facility capable of hosting all kinds of activities dynamically and safely, resulting in an improvement in cities.

This is just one example of how we can and should embrace multipurpose use of  infrastructure to move toward a more sustainable environment. There are many other examples where technology development and sustainable engineering allow us to make the most out of infrastructure. These include:

Urban parks: Parks can offer recreational areas for children and adults, walking or running trails, sports areas, outdoor event spaces, and can also incorporate sustainability elements, such as urban gardens and recycling systems.

Transport infrastructure: Train, bus, or subway   stations can integrate shopping centers, offices, hotels, entertainment spaces, or healthcare centers to take advantage of their strategic locations and improve connectivity.

Sustainable buildings: Buildings can be designed to use smart technology and convertible designs to suit different needs. For example, using efficient lighting and climate control systems, buildings can change their functionality to host various events or activities.

In the past, people took advantage of the mixed-use possibilities of cathedrals and the future will allow      us to expand the use of any infrastructure. Achieving this is only a matter of human ingenuity and willingness.