The stadium, already the largest in Europe, will be enlarged to accommodate over 106,000 fans, together with extensive new facilities including hospitality and public areas. A new roof will also be created to shelter the fans. The stadium will be enclosed by a brightly coloured mosaic outer skin that wraps around the building and continues over a new roof. The multi-coloured enclosure comprises overlapping translucent tiles in the club colours. The myriad of tiles can be seen as symbolising the loyalty and devotion of FC Barcelona’s fans worldwide.
The remodelled stadium retains the essential elements of the original Camp Nou, designed by architects Francesc Mitjans-Miró, García Barbon and Soteras Mauri, which was inaugurated in 1957.
On match nights, the stadium will glow, providing a new architectural icon for the city. In the same way that FC Barcelona is ‘more than a club’, the new Camp Nou will be much more than a stadium.
Lord Foster, Chairman and Founder of Foster + Partners said: ‘It is an enormous honour to have been selected to remodel Camp Nou Stadium for FC Barcelona, such an important symbol for the Barca fans and the Catalan people. Football is a powerful and democratic force that brings together all social classes in celebration, therefore a stadium, perhaps more than other type of building, is a truly democratic space, the design of a stadium is the greatest expression of an architecture that goes beyond aesthetics to have a social agenda. In this sense I believe that there is a wonderful connection between football and architecture.’
Mouzhan Majidi Chief Executive of Foster + Partners and project architect said: ‘We are extremely excited to have won this design competition. In its 50th year this is a fantastic opportunity to give a timely regeneration to the Camp Nou. Our design respects the characteristic asymmetric seating bowl and as well as embodying the club colours in its form, the remodelled stadium will also incorporate the very latest construction technology so that the stadium can remain in use by the club throughout the works.’
Facts and Figures
Original Stadium Architects: Francesc Mijtans-Miro, Garcia Barbon and Soteras Mauri Inaugurated 24 September 1957
Projected Stadium Footprint: 52,000 m²
Projected Floor Area (gross): 180,000 m² Approximate Budget: Euro 250 million
Projected Capacity: Increased from 98,000 to 106,000 seats (Largest stadium in Europe)
