Voetbal op Hoog Niveau: How IKEA Utrecht cleverly combined space, sport and city
At a time when cities are becoming more densely built and square meters are scarce, more and more developers and urban planners are looking upwards. On top of roofs, opportunities literally lie. And sometimes those opportunities have been visible for more than a decade. Like at IKEA Utrecht, where football club Faja Lobi KDS has been training and playing at a height of nine metres since 2013. Between shopping trolleys and home accessories, there lies one of the most innovative sports venues in the Netherlands: two entire football pitches on the roof of a car park.
The genesis: from need to unique concept
The origin of this rooftop pitch lies in a typical urban challenge. When IKEA wanted to expand its Utrecht branch in 2011, the neighbouring football club Faja Lobi KDS ran into trouble. This was because the expansion would come at the expense of the existing sports ground. But instead of relocating or closing down the club, both parties sought a creative solution. And they did: the football pitches were moved to the roof of IKEA's new car park.
The result? A retail area that grew from 18,000 to 40,000 square metres AND a sports club that kept its place. Albeit nine metres higher. In collaboration with the municipality, developer and architect, this created the first sports club in the Netherlands to operate entirely on the roof of a building.
Technology, creativity and collaboration
The roof of the car park was fully reinforced and fitted with artificial grass, ball catchers, lighting and fencing. The construction was technically supervised by Ballast Nedam. Consideration was given to drainage, insulation, acoustics and loading by hundreds of athletes. For visitors to IKEA, the sports field is hardly visible. But those who know it and look up will see something special: a vibrant sports environment on top of a shopping centre.
This clever solution is a textbook example of what is possible with public-private partnerships (PPPs). IKEA provided the land and infrastructure, while the football club and Utrecht municipality jointly took care of operations and sports technology. This makes it more than an architectural project.
"Faja Lobi KDS proves: if it can be done in Utrecht, it can be done anywhere."
De club: Faja Lobi KDS
The club itself, Faja Lobi KDS, is more than just an association. Founded in 1995 as a club of friends for footballers with a Surinamese background, it grew into a lively and diverse football club for everyone. The club now has several teams, from youth to seniors, and regularly organises social projects and events.
The name Faja Lobi means 'fierce love' in Sranantongo a fitting name for a club that fights with heart and soul for its place in the city. The move to the rooftop has not detracted from this, quite the contrary. The unique location works as a magnet for players, volunteers and visitors.
Why this is so special
A football club on the roof of an IKEA is not only unique in the Netherlands , it is a rarity worldwide. What makes this project so special:
- Smart use of space: combining retail and sports in one location is efficient, sustainable and innovative.
- Urban integration: sports and shopping become part of the same urban structure. No wasted space, but shared facilities.
- Social impact: Sport remains available in the neighbourhood, without moving to peripheral locations.
In addition, the roof has now become a landmark. In many cities parking roofs are monofunctional and soulless, in Utrecht they form the backdrop for sports, energy and connection.
Which next club will follow the roof?
The story of IKEA Utrecht and Faja Lobi KDS is no longer an exception, it is a harbinger of what is possible if we really dare to think differently. Instead of moving sports to the outskirts of the city, we bring it back: in the middle of the neighbourhood, on top of the roof, where space is scarce but ideas are allowed to be grand.
So here is an open invitation: which football club dares to be the next to take to the air? Which municipality will pick up the gauntlet?
At Sports + Vitality, we are ready to help. With dozens of global examples, a growing network of architects, developers and sports innovators and with a clear mission: to turn rooftops into places where health, movement and meeting come together.
A field on the roof is more than a clever solution. It is a statement. Show that your city is daring. That your club leads the way. The first kick-off has been taken in Utrecht. Who will follow?
The space is there. So is the urgency. Now all we need is the guts to look up.