Practice appointed as lead architect on €100m project
Stadium specialist Populous has landed the role of lead architect on a €100m renovation of a football stadium in France which will include the use of repurposed jet airliners.
The practice, which designed the London Stadium for the 2012 Olympics, will install sections of the fuselages of decommissioned Airbus A340 aircraft as sunshades at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg.
Populous senior principal Francois Clement said the use of the “upcycled” fuselages were part of the scheme’s sustainability strategy, which will also see the parts of the stadium which are demolished being reused for the construction of the renovation.
The football stadium, which is the home ground of the Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg, is being spruced up to increase its capacity and create new spaces for fans.
Aside from the unusual new sunshades, a new five-storey glass-fronted atrium will be built at the stadium’s South Stand providing new bars, hospitality lounges and two “party decks” overlooking the pitch.
More bars and food and drink outlets will also be created at the North, East and West Stands, while the stadium’s capacity will be increased from 26, 282 to around 32,000.
The scheme is due to start on site in May 2022 with completion scheduled for July 2025.
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