Does this one remind you of Poznan’s Euro 2012 stadium? It sure should, because it’s the same office on the job. Polish MCS and Algerian Concept Design have just been selected as best bidders to design massive sports complex in Constantine, Algeria.

80 hectares, large indoor arena, impressive natatorium, smaller tennis hall, open courts and sports pitches and an equestrian complex. Then a hotel with conference and parking facilities. All this is to be built 18km from the centre of Constantine, northern Algeria. But all of these buildings will be overshadowed by the 50,000-capacity central stadium, centerpiece of the plan.

The above is what architects from all over the world were trying to draw in recent months. As selection was made, we now know that design team of Modern Construction Systems (Poland) and Concept Design (Algeria) are the ones on the job. Their vision’s a dynamic approach towards the whole complex, with clear, but differing forms of each venue. Perhaps most interesting is the natatorium, planned to symbolically open to the outside with water cascades as an impressive landscaping element.

but for us it’s still the football stadium that matters most. Contrary to many complexes built in Maghreb, this one has a football-specific stadium at its heart, without any running track. The outside makes a clear association with Poznan and its Euro 2012 stadium as steel ‘ribs’ of the roof dome are covered with white membrane. Except that in Constantine’s case two exterior options were given – one with full membrane and one with numerous perforations, presumably allowing more sunlight and better ventilation.

As for the interior, it’s what we’d call a typical bowl design with two tiers divided with a corporate ring. nothing out of the ordinary, but still state of the art venue with 50,000 seats without a single obstructed view. Or so the architects claim at this point. Behind the stands two promenades encircle the stadium, allowing for fluent crowdflow.

Because we’re only at the initial concept phase, there’s still a long way to go before we see the final shape based on these renderings. But this complex is already said to be approved for implementation, thus we may see it get built eventually, contrary to many similar projects across Maghreb.