IAKS sb magazine 02/2024. whitepaper
DESIGNING FOR WOMEN SPORTS:
DON’T SEGMENT US, INCLUDE US!
DON’T SEGMENT US, INCLUDE US!
Irina Akhmanova
Associate Principal | Senior Architectural Designer, POPULOUS
First publication: IAKS sb magazine 02/2024
sb magazine 2/2024 | IAKS Worldwide
Photos: Mark Avellino, POPULOUS
The importance of inclusivity and accessibility for sports facilities has been growing during the past few years. This growth is well-fed not only by the impressive achievements of the Paralympic sports movement and significantly increased interest in female sport but also by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, in which inclusive design affects six categories, including Economic Impact, Future Proofing, Health and Wellness, Social Impact, Equality and Equity and Opportunity.
On the back of the two Australian sports venues Brisbane Lions Brighton Homes Arena and The Home of the Matildas, Populous Senior Associate Dr Irina Akhmanova describes the impact of the integration of female sports in the day-to-day lives of elite and community sports societies, showing the commercial and social benefits of this integration.
On the back of the two Australian sports venues Brisbane Lions Brighton Homes Arena and The Home of the Matildas, Populous Senior Associate Dr Irina Akhmanova describes the impact of the integration of female sports in the day-to-day lives of elite and community sports societies, showing the commercial and social benefits of this integration.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
The transformation of the principles of Universal Design, which were more based on providing minimum standards for the minority of people, and through the time turned to a check-list exercise, into the principles of Inclusive Design, became a part of the process of integration of all members of society into active social life and building the resilient communities.
CABE published and promoted the principles of Inclusive Design as it relates to the built environment4:
• Inclusive – so everyone can use it safely, easily and with dignity.
• Responsive – taking account of what people say they need and want.
• Flexible – so different people can use it in different ways.
• Convenient – so everyone can use it without too much effort or separation.
• Accommodating for all people, regardless of their age, gender, mobility, ethnicity or circumstances.
• Welcoming – with no disabling barriers that might exclude some people.
• Realistic – offering more than one solution to help balance everyone's needs and recognising that one solution may not work for all.
Applying these principles to the architectural design of the sports facilities allows to create a barrier-free space, open to all visitors and athletes regardless of their physical or functional capacity. This approach is beneficial from the social perspective on one side, and commercial potential of the sports complexes on the other side.
The transformation of the principles of Universal Design, which were more based on providing minimum standards for the minority of people, and through the time turned to a check-list exercise, into the principles of Inclusive Design, became a part of the process of integration of all members of society into active social life and building the resilient communities.
CABE published and promoted the principles of Inclusive Design as it relates to the built environment4:
• Inclusive – so everyone can use it safely, easily and with dignity.
• Responsive – taking account of what people say they need and want.
• Flexible – so different people can use it in different ways.
• Convenient – so everyone can use it without too much effort or separation.
• Accommodating for all people, regardless of their age, gender, mobility, ethnicity or circumstances.
• Welcoming – with no disabling barriers that might exclude some people.
• Realistic – offering more than one solution to help balance everyone's needs and recognising that one solution may not work for all.
Applying these principles to the architectural design of the sports facilities allows to create a barrier-free space, open to all visitors and athletes regardless of their physical or functional capacity. This approach is beneficial from the social perspective on one side, and commercial potential of the sports complexes on the other side.
AUSTRALIAN FEMALES IN SPORTS
Like in most countries, the Australian female population is outnumbering the male population, with a general tendency for the female population to get older. The typical Australian female is 39 years old and has a life expectancy of 85.4 years.
The statistic2,3 of the participation in a sport-related activity at least once a week shows the following numbers:
• Women (aged 15+) – 32%
• Women with disability (aged 18+) – 18%
• First Nations women (aged 18+) – 26%
• Girls (aged 0-14) – 46%
The growth of professional female sports is fully represented by the changes in the number of AFL Women’s teams over the last eight years—from 8 teams in 2017 to 18 teams in 2022, which is now equal to the number of Men’s teams in AFL.
However, in Australia, women are still underrepresented in organised sports—as participants, coaches, officials, administrators, and board members—when compared to their male cohort.1,3 One reason is the lack of equal opportunities in terms of provided facilities, female community and kids' engagement, and safe and welcoming spaces for training and competitions.
During the wide public discussions and workshops among the female community, the major statement was “Don’t segment us! Include us!” indicating the demand for equal opportunities for the elite and community sports engagement. Promoting an active lifestyle from childhood, including in a training process people of different ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds, offering the opportunities for training next to the national champions, using world-class equipment, fields of play and indoor sports halls, is leading to developing a healthy nation, sharing the values of diversity and inclusion.
Understanding these challenges leads to the growing request for multi-functional, inclusive, and mixed-use sports facilities that could provide equal access to the elite training zones for male and female athletes and encourage young and adult females to join different community sports activities in a safe and family-friendly environment.
Like in most countries, the Australian female population is outnumbering the male population, with a general tendency for the female population to get older. The typical Australian female is 39 years old and has a life expectancy of 85.4 years.
The statistic2,3 of the participation in a sport-related activity at least once a week shows the following numbers:
• Women (aged 15+) – 32%
• Women with disability (aged 18+) – 18%
• First Nations women (aged 18+) – 26%
• Girls (aged 0-14) – 46%
The growth of professional female sports is fully represented by the changes in the number of AFL Women’s teams over the last eight years—from 8 teams in 2017 to 18 teams in 2022, which is now equal to the number of Men’s teams in AFL.
However, in Australia, women are still underrepresented in organised sports—as participants, coaches, officials, administrators, and board members—when compared to their male cohort.1,3 One reason is the lack of equal opportunities in terms of provided facilities, female community and kids' engagement, and safe and welcoming spaces for training and competitions.
During the wide public discussions and workshops among the female community, the major statement was “Don’t segment us! Include us!” indicating the demand for equal opportunities for the elite and community sports engagement. Promoting an active lifestyle from childhood, including in a training process people of different ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds, offering the opportunities for training next to the national champions, using world-class equipment, fields of play and indoor sports halls, is leading to developing a healthy nation, sharing the values of diversity and inclusion.
Understanding these challenges leads to the growing request for multi-functional, inclusive, and mixed-use sports facilities that could provide equal access to the elite training zones for male and female athletes and encourage young and adult females to join different community sports activities in a safe and family-friendly environment.
FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT AFLW ARENA:
BRISBANE LIONS BRIGHTON HOMES ARENA
BRISBANE LIONS BRIGHTON HOMES ARENA
The Brisbane Lions Brighton Homes Arena (BHA) is a unique example of a sports and entertainment venue seamlessly integrating elite sporting and community-focused elements to create a destination precinct in an emerging urban environment.
In recent years, the rapid rise of the AFLW competition has led to a need for a dedicated playing arena and expansion of the current high-performance training facilities to accommodate both male and female elite athletes and bring them up to date with competition standards.
The Brighton Homes Arena is a 9,000-seat boutique community arena used by AFLW Queensland, hosting representative matches and serving as a dedicated place for junior development. It is the first AFLW arena designed to host professional matches at a new home rather than retrofitting an existing AFL ground.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Brighton Homes Arena sets a new benchmark for delivering equal opportunity facilities in an elite sporting environment. From concept to built form, it distinguishes itself as the first AFL Women’s Premiership arena purposefully designed in Australia, a departure from retrofitting existing venues.
Located within Queensland's second-fastest-growing region and the seventh-fastest in Australia, BHA will provide recreation, wellness, and meeting facilities for up to 580,000 people by 2031.
From its inception, BHA aimed to be more than just another elite sports facility. It sought to serve diverse needs, including community recreation and health. The arena is the anchor for an engaging and active sports and entertainment precinct, one that connects the club to the surrounding residents, schools, and businesses.
To create an engaging civic precinct and extend the Lions’ relationship with the broader community, over 50% of the facility is made accessible to the public all year round.
The Brighton Homes Arena is a 9,000-seat boutique community arena used by AFLW Queensland, hosting representative matches and serving as a dedicated place for junior development. It is the first AFLW arena designed to host professional matches at a new home rather than retrofitting an existing AFL ground.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Brighton Homes Arena sets a new benchmark for delivering equal opportunity facilities in an elite sporting environment. From concept to built form, it distinguishes itself as the first AFL Women’s Premiership arena purposefully designed in Australia, a departure from retrofitting existing venues.
Located within Queensland's second-fastest-growing region and the seventh-fastest in Australia, BHA will provide recreation, wellness, and meeting facilities for up to 580,000 people by 2031.
From its inception, BHA aimed to be more than just another elite sports facility. It sought to serve diverse needs, including community recreation and health. The arena is the anchor for an engaging and active sports and entertainment precinct, one that connects the club to the surrounding residents, schools, and businesses.
To create an engaging civic precinct and extend the Lions’ relationship with the broader community, over 50% of the facility is made accessible to the public all year round.
CO-LOCATION OF KEY AREAS LEADING TO COST EFFICIENCIES
The Arena design places a central focus on gender equality, having been designed to provide equal high-performance facilities for the Brisbane Lions’ AFLW and AFL teams and to create the first purpose-built AFLW Premiership match venue in Australia. The co-location of key areas for the AFL and AFLW drove cost efficiencies for the project through THE considered planning of shared spaces. It allowed for more investment in public amenities across the campus. The Arena also provides a training hub that allows the Lions to engage and support the 600+ families and young players who are members of the Brisbane Lions’ Academy (elite youth sport pathway) each year.
The Arena design places a central focus on gender equality, having been designed to provide equal high-performance facilities for the Brisbane Lions’ AFLW and AFL teams and to create the first purpose-built AFLW Premiership match venue in Australia. The co-location of key areas for the AFL and AFLW drove cost efficiencies for the project through THE considered planning of shared spaces. It allowed for more investment in public amenities across the campus. The Arena also provides a training hub that allows the Lions to engage and support the 600+ families and young players who are members of the Brisbane Lions’ Academy (elite youth sport pathway) each year.
ELITE TRAINING CENTRE IN MELBOURNE:
THE HOME OF THE MATILDAS
In 2023 Australia and New Zealand hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and preparation to this event had affected the whole female population of the country. Women’s football became the fastest growing sports in the country, and participation in the sport in 2022 was up by 21% on the previous year.
These changes were also heated up by the growing popularity of the Women's National Football Team – “Matildas”, who had a record for the most attended standalone women's football match in the country's history in 2019, successfully participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and had a remarkable achievement during the FIFA World Cup in their Homeland.
These changes were also heated up by the growing popularity of the Women's National Football Team – “Matildas”, who had a record for the most attended standalone women's football match in the country's history in 2019, successfully participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and had a remarkable achievement during the FIFA World Cup in their Homeland.
Significantly increased interest in female football led to the development of The Home of the Matildas—a purpose-built, high-performance elite training facility in Victoria’s La Trobe University Sports Park, the largest football-specific infrastructure project in Australia’s history.
Within the precinct is the new elite training centre for the Australian women’s football team, which is also the permanent home for Football Victoria’s representative teams for women and men of all ages and their administration operations.
Within the precinct is the new elite training centre for the Australian women’s football team, which is also the permanent home for Football Victoria’s representative teams for women and men of all ages and their administration operations.
"FOOTBALL FOR ALL" VENUE
As Principal Design Consultant, Populous created a modern, centralised, gender-neutral football facility as a ‘Football for All’ venue for World Games players and officials. The $57 million facility is one of the first in Australia for a national Football team to call home. It connects all levels of Footballers, from grassroots community players to state and national youth teams, and supports player pathways to becoming a Matilda.
The facility was delivered with help from the Victorian and Federal Governments and will assist in providing a home base to foster youth talent, strengthen senior elite talent, and become a home for Victoria’s best players, officials, coaches, and administration staff.
As Principal Design Consultant, Populous created a modern, centralised, gender-neutral football facility as a ‘Football for All’ venue for World Games players and officials. The $57 million facility is one of the first in Australia for a national Football team to call home. It connects all levels of Footballers, from grassroots community players to state and national youth teams, and supports player pathways to becoming a Matilda.
The facility was delivered with help from the Victorian and Federal Governments and will assist in providing a home base to foster youth talent, strengthen senior elite talent, and become a home for Victoria’s best players, officials, coaches, and administration staff.
ATHLETE JOURNEY AS DESIGN PRINCIPLE
Design objectives for the facility focused on providing a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all footballers, coaches, referees and volunteers, irrespective of age, gender or ability. The athlete journey was also a major focus in the planning and design of the building to ensure the athlete moved through the spaces efficiently to maximise their training time and collaboration with the teams. Another value of having all levels of athletes able to train together is the visible elite player pathways and shared learnings through observation and collaboration, reinforced with equity through the provision of spaces designed for use by all.
Equivalent training facility provision provided for both men and women in football facilities are located within the buildings to optimise access and interactions when using the gym, auditorium, team meeting rooms and the premier field. Both junior and senior players can follow in the footsteps of their football heroes with opportunities to train and play on the five natural, hybrid and synthetic pitches.
The medical and rehabilitation facilities are located centrally to optimise their use by the playing group, with increased levels of privacy to cater to players of all ages. The Football Victoria administration space is open-plan to unify the admin body with its wider training, players, and community operation groups.
Through these closer synergies, the new facility nurtures the positive culture of the organisation, promoting a comfortable, non-hierarchical work environment for staff. The Home of the Matildas provides year-round access to elite training and match facilities which delivers the best opportunities to enjoy programs, competitions and training which can upskill women both on the pitch and in sports admin and leadership.
Design objectives for the facility focused on providing a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all footballers, coaches, referees and volunteers, irrespective of age, gender or ability. The athlete journey was also a major focus in the planning and design of the building to ensure the athlete moved through the spaces efficiently to maximise their training time and collaboration with the teams. Another value of having all levels of athletes able to train together is the visible elite player pathways and shared learnings through observation and collaboration, reinforced with equity through the provision of spaces designed for use by all.
Equivalent training facility provision provided for both men and women in football facilities are located within the buildings to optimise access and interactions when using the gym, auditorium, team meeting rooms and the premier field. Both junior and senior players can follow in the footsteps of their football heroes with opportunities to train and play on the five natural, hybrid and synthetic pitches.
The medical and rehabilitation facilities are located centrally to optimise their use by the playing group, with increased levels of privacy to cater to players of all ages. The Football Victoria administration space is open-plan to unify the admin body with its wider training, players, and community operation groups.
Through these closer synergies, the new facility nurtures the positive culture of the organisation, promoting a comfortable, non-hierarchical work environment for staff. The Home of the Matildas provides year-round access to elite training and match facilities which delivers the best opportunities to enjoy programs, competitions and training which can upskill women both on the pitch and in sports admin and leadership.
OVERALL GOAL:
EVERLASTING LEGACY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS' FOOTBALL
As part of Football Australia’s bold and ambitious Legacy ‘23 plan, Victoria is leading the way in ensuring that there will be an everlasting legacy for women and girls’ football long after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament has been successfully held in the region.
The precinct will provide a world-class training facility and a home that celebrates and recognises the pinnacle of women's football in Australia and provides a global benchmark that will enable the world game for women.
The Home of the CommBank Matildas delivers on the vision for the code by fostering a deep comradery to unite a football organisation with a culturally positive environment.
The projects presented above are creating a strong vector for the future integration of Australian and global female sports in the day-to-day life of the elite and community sports societies, showing the commercial and social benefits of this integration. Inclusion starts on the lowest levels and in the youngest age, and the design of the public and sports facilities should foster this process, providing equal opportunities and support for all the members of the society, regardless of their age, gender, race, physical or mental abilities.
EVERLASTING LEGACY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS' FOOTBALL
As part of Football Australia’s bold and ambitious Legacy ‘23 plan, Victoria is leading the way in ensuring that there will be an everlasting legacy for women and girls’ football long after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament has been successfully held in the region.
The precinct will provide a world-class training facility and a home that celebrates and recognises the pinnacle of women's football in Australia and provides a global benchmark that will enable the world game for women.
The Home of the CommBank Matildas delivers on the vision for the code by fostering a deep comradery to unite a football organisation with a culturally positive environment.
The projects presented above are creating a strong vector for the future integration of Australian and global female sports in the day-to-day life of the elite and community sports societies, showing the commercial and social benefits of this integration. Inclusion starts on the lowest levels and in the youngest age, and the design of the public and sports facilities should foster this process, providing equal opportunities and support for all the members of the society, regardless of their age, gender, race, physical or mental abilities.
Photo owners:
@Mark Avellino
POPULOUS
@Mark Avellino
POPULOUS
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