FC barcelona selects NIKKEN SEKKEI + pascual-ausió arquitectes to renovate camp nou stadium

catalan football club FC barcelona has selected NIKKEN SEKKEI and pascual-ausió arquitectes to complete the overhaul of its iconic camp nou stadium. the scheme was chosen ahead of designs by bjarke ingels group, populous, and ricardo bofill — among others. plans involve adding a larger roof canopy to the existing stadium, built by francesc mitjans in 1957, and expanding the venue’s capacity to a total of 105,000 spectators — cementing its status as the biggest club stadium in the world. construction work is expected to begin in 2017, with completion scheduled for 2021.

the approach to the renovated arena | all images courtesy of FC barcelona

the jury, made up of five club members, three members of the col·legi d’arquitectes de catalunya (COAC) and one member of barcelona city council, made its decision after an in-depth review of the different proposals. the panel praised the chosen design for being ‘open, elegant, serene, timelessly mediterranean and democratic.’ ‘it is also notable for its relationship with the environment, providing depth, creating shadows and making members the stars of the facade and of the open area at all times,’ continued the jury. ‘the proposal presents a very subtle attempt to intervene in the environment to facilitate circulation and achieve diverse urban usage in the barça campus and guarantees a clear and safe construction.’

the jury praised the design for being ‘open, elegant, and serene’

the first phase of the tender involved the pre-qualification of the different teams. a total of 45 teams initially presented bids, 26 for the new camp nou, and 19 for the new palau — an adjacent arena that will be completed by US firm HOK. in september 2015, the jury selected eight teams, each composed of one international studio and one local practice. the plans will be presented as part of a public exhibition open to both members and fans.

sectional drawing illustrating the new roof canopy