New Camp Nou opens to the world

Barcelona (CNA) .-The winning project by the Nikken Sekkei Studio from Japan and the Pascual-Ausió Catalan architects was presented to the media at an event held at the Camp Nou in the presence of the first team. The New Nou Camp architectural project revolves around the current stadium´s signature overhanging roof to the main stand; the new stadium will, in fact, extend the overhang all around the stadium and into the exterior as well. The new stadium, unique in its kind, will hold 105,000 people, and will hold itself to the highest standards of sustainability by using collected rainwater from the roof and solar energy as part of its global strategy. Several other buildings will surround it as part of the new project, and will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding Les Corts neighbourhood in Barcelona. The remodelling process, to be concluded in the 2020/2021 season, will not interfere with the current functioning of the stadium, and will continue in stages, although the definitive schedule is still pending approval. 

The New Camp Nou was presented on Thursday, showing to the world the uniqueness of its design, a stadium for the 21st century that emphasizes the spirit of wanting to be open to everyone. The Camp Nou grandstand was the scene for the event, where the Board of Directors, led by president Josep Maria Bartomeu, sporting and institutional representatives, former players who have helped build the history of the current stadium and also players and coaches from the first team were present.

The winning bid came from the Nikken Sekkei studio from Japan, and that of Catalan architects Pascual-Ausió, who were chosen on 8 March by the Espai Barça committee, made up of four members of the Board: the architect Juan Pablo Mitjans (son of Francesc Mitjans, architect of the Camp Nou), three members of the College of Architects of Catalonia and a representative of the City Council. The project will convert the current stadium into a brand new Camp Nou without a conventional façade and that will be serene, timeless, Mediterranean and democratic.

The architectural project for the New Nou Camp is rooted in the singularity of the overhanging roof of the current stadium’s main stand, which is of unique sentimental value as a reminder of the original design by Mitjans. Sekkei and Pascual-Ausió have reinterpreted this feature and extended it across the whole stadium over all three level, while also turning it out towards the street, going from inside to out to form the exterior coverings for the common areas. The New Camp Nou will be a stadium like no other in the world.

The winning proposal has created an excellent, comfortable stadium with a 105,000 capacity and boasting a full range of services, fitting in perfectly with the surrounding Campus Barça -eliminating previous barriers to the neighbourhood and opening the facilities to the city via a new green space. Access to the Stadium will be at street level through a spacious and lofty atrium, with access to the upper floors via 12 separate columns which incorporate escalators, stairways and lifts. The New Camp Nou will be built to the highest standards of sustainability, using collected rainwater from the roof and solar energy as part of the global strategy of the Espai Barça to become a stadium that is open and accessible to as well as being a smart stadium incorporating the latest technological advances.

The New Camp Nou will offer excellent visibility from all seating areas. The first level will be completely new and built in a more parabolic and vertical style. The second level will maintain its current structure while offering ideal visibility with the addition of increased comfort, accessibility and services, including the third tier, which will run round the whole ground above the main stand. Above that, there will be a 360° walkway with connections both with the inside of the stadium and the outside city..

Integrated with the city and neighbourhood

It is precisely this integration of the New Camp and its Espai Barça in Les Corts district and the city of Barcelona that was one of the main reasons why this candidature was chosen. A broad surrounding area without vehicles, without slopes, without barriers, and with an underground parking lot with 3,500 spaces enables the development of a huge esplanade where the Museum, FCBotiga Megastore and Foundation will be located, along with buildings that have been designed as if they were Japanese origami as they emerge from the ground and blend into the landscape while not obstructing the flow or view for members and visitors. The campus will also include other complementary buildings (service and ticket offices, etc.) as well as catering.

The whole remodeling process will go ahead without interrupting matches in the stadium. Construction will happen in stages, to be concluded in the 2020/21 season, although the definitive schedule is still pending approval of the New Metropolitan Plan and the Espai Barça urban planning project. Commissioner Jordi Moix and the Espai Barça team led by William T. Mannarelli will be working in parallel with different institutions and the teams of architects to develop the urban plans and architectural projects in coordination with the City Council and the Catalan Government (the Generalitat), as well as the residents of Les Corts and other social movements.

The Social Area will also oversee, with guidance from the best companies in the sector, the migration process to transfer season tickets from the current stadium to the New Camp Nou, by assigning new seats to members. The extension of the capacity means many members currently on the waiting list will be getting seats, and families and friends can be regrouped, as well as extending the services for reduced visibility supportersd.

Espai Barça Exhibition

Following the event, a new space was opened that is fully dedicated to the New Camp Nou. That is the Espai Barça Exhibition, and its commissioner, Albert Blanc, hosted a guided visit of the display. The exhibition is in Sala Paris, which opened its doors on the same occasion as the presentation of the New Palau Blaugrana and now also includes full details of the winning project for the New Camp Nou.