Un Grand Parc – design description

Inspired by architectural and urban research of the authors, this proposal is not a commercial response but a spontaneous  gesture, reflecting a unique vision and steering a debate on the future of an iconic Parisian building. This is the first step towards a much needed regeneration of the Parc des Princes, looking beyond the milestone of the Euro 2016.

Proposing a new project for this stadium is an extraordinary endeavour. The Parc des Princes is a major symbol for sports and show business that requires a particularly subtle and comprehensive approach, in order to offer a new and improved experience while maintaining the specific character of the building. This current proposal is ambitious: it brings the total capacity of the stadium from 48,000 seats to 75,000 seats, in line with other great European sporting venues.

The transformation of the Parc des Princes starts with the public experience. From individual and public transportation to the stands, the new stadium will offer a seamless and straightforward itinerary, in a building that matches the ambition of its resident club. The proposal sees new stadium that raises capacity by almost 60% while preserving the original principles of modernity and flexibility that inspired the iconic building designed by architect Roger Taillibert and inaugurated on 3 June 1972.

As the stadium is almost entirely dedicated to football, authors believe it should evolve together with the sport. This is why they have envisaged a more complete experience, where the show remains at the centre, but where facilities such as shops, restaurants and cafes, private boxes, a museum, as well as business meeting areas are integrated to the building.

The accessibility of the stadium has been reworked to respond to its increased capacity, from circulation in the back-stands through stairs and entrances, to a new roof that will allow games to take place in all weather conditions. The steel structure, which holds together the high stands and the light roof, sits on top of the current concrete building, creating a protective shell, solid but elegant, over the stadium. This intervention is both economical and architecturally meaningful, engaging in a dialogue between past and present.

The architectural quality of the new building will have a positive impact on the neighbourhood. From the outside, the approach to the stadium has been redesigned with open viewpoints towards the landmark building, improving the legibility of space. The Boulevard Périphérique is also partly covered, creating a pedestrian avenue leading from the square on Porte de Saint Cloud to the stadium’s various entrances. A new 200,000 square meters development in the south west corner of the square will bring employment and animation.

The urban project will transform a rarely used space into a civic square, with a strong programme of activities and landscaped areas. The Parc des Princes will become a physical, social and symbolic link between Paris and Boulogne. The aim of this project is to recreate the excitement triggered by the stadium when it first opened, and to allow the building to fit hisser comfortably in a continuously evolving city.

The 1970s saw the multiplication of cars, the creation of the first roundabouts and the Boulevard Périphérique; the city of 2014 is concerned with soft mobility, public spaces and the human scale. The stadium will adapt to this changing demand and will be rooted in the Grand Paris, creating a piece of infrastructure in line with great European capitals and fully embedded in the existing local urban fabric. The proposed intervention is therefore renewing the bet made by the original 1970s

building: it reflects today’s urban policy, the ambitions of the time, and perpetuates a major symbol for the city, the sport, and the country as a whole.