With the kick off for the 2014 FIFA World Cup less than two weeks away, a new modern steel roof has been completed on the Beira-Rio Stadium in the city of Porto Alegre.

Overseen by Brazilian firm, Santini & Rocha Arquitetos, the project involved replacing the stadium’s old solid roof with a new lightweight steel structure that would help reduce heat absorption and create a standard temperature inside the arena.

A PTFE membrane, which has been shaped like giant leaves, extends up above the stands, with transparent sections between the main structural supports allowing daylight to filter into the stadium.

The roof is also self-cleaning and channels rainwater to tanks from which it can be used for flushing toilets, helping to reduce the stadium's water consumption.

In addition to the roof, the architects removed and replaced the concrete lower tiers, installed new VIP facilities, and upgraded plumbing and electrics.

The revamped stadium has been inaugurated by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and is set to host five matches during the World Cup tournament.

Courtesy Dezeen