Estadio Santiago Bernabéu – design description

The concept was first presented in October 2012, when Real Madrid announced four finalists of the international design competition for Santiago Bernabeu. In January 2014 the vision by GMP Architekten, L35 Arquitectos and Ribas&Ribas was declared the final one, set for implementation.

The plan initially included additional premium seating across the stadium, mostly in the western part. East side is to also get new regular tier of seats. A vast commercial building was to adjoin the western facade, while all of the stadium will receive a new external wrap. The metallic cladding will form a futuristic and assymetric form with LED lighting illumination.

Eventually however, after over two years of bureaucratic deadlock, the stadium plan was downsized significantly. Capacity increase was scrapped, so were the hotel, shopping center and additional parking spaces.

The stadium will receive a brand new roof structure with a retractable central part. The inner perimeter of the roof will be covered by a panoramic giant screen.