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Herzog & de Meuron Unveil Plans for Solar Powered Stadium in Bordeaux

date added: 22.07.2011

On Monday, the city of Bordeaux announced Swiss architecture firm, Herzog & de Meuron, as the winners of the design competition for the new stadium in Bordeaux. The airy, prismatic stadium is set to be completed in time for de l'Euro 2016 de football and will serve as home field for Girondins de Bordeaux. Accessed via public transportation, the 43,500 seat stadium will hold various events like football (soccer), rugby and concerts and will help raise the level of sporting in the area. As part of the development, a large photovoltaic plant will pump out renewable energy for the area and the stadium.

The stadium is located in the city’s green belt district in the Lac quarter and has been designed to have a direct connection with the surrounding environment. Square in volume, the structure is surrounded on all sides by slender tree like poles that give the feeling you are walking into a forest. Inside the stadium drops down into the ground and opens up to the sky under a concave roof. All of the seats will be covered to meet the standards of spectator comfort set by UEFA and will have perfect visibility of the field.

Surrounding the stadium will be a landscaped area designed by French landscape architect Michel Desvigne and Vinci-Fayat will head up construction. Adjacent to the new stadium and situated next to the lake is a large photovoltaic plant. The project is also said to be very effective in terms of sustainable development and maintenance. Construction is expected to break ground soon to meet the scheduled completion date of 2015.