Santiago Bernabéu Stadium,
design: gmp Architekten,
L35 Arquitectos, Ribas & Ribas Architects
Madrid has completed the redevelopment of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home ground of Real Madrid, Spanish soccer's record holder. The stadium, opened in 1947, has been expanded several times over the years to accommodate more fans. In 2014, the team of architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners from gmp Architekten, in collaboration with L35 Arquitectos and Ribas & Ribas Architects, won first place in a competition to modernize it. Now, ten years later, the project has been brought to life.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - bird's eye view
© Marcus Bredt
Santiago Bernabéu's futuristic facade
The most noticeable change is the new look of the building - the historic, brutalist facades have been replaced by a new uniform shell, softly surrounding the volume, made of stainless steel slats. Horizontal gaps between the slats allow natural ventilation of the interior.
The redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu has completely transformed the stadium's appearance
© Marcus Bredt
Retractable roof and enlarged arena
The Santiago Bernabéu stadium also has a retractable roof, which allows matches to be played regardless of the weather. The stadium's capacity, which was previously around 80,000 seats, has been increased by nearly 3,000. An additional floor with 240 VIP boxes and hospitality spaces has been created on the upper floors, offering space for another 1,600 people.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - visualization
© gmp Architekten
The facility is now the second largest stadium in Spain. When not hosting matches, the stadium functions as a tourist attraction, where visitors can tour the interior, enjoy restaurants, stores and visit the Real Madrid Museum.
Santiago Bernabéu - longitudinal cross-section of the stadium
© gmp Architekten
technological innovations
in a "shimmering jewel"
The architects describe the appearance of the new stadium as a "shimmering jewel" - From afar, the structure reflects sunlight in different ways, depending on the angle at which it is viewed. What's more, at dusk, the facades are illuminated by LEDs that create a variety of lighting effects.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium has been given a new uniform facade, consisting of curved aluminum slats
© Marcus Bredt
In the future, it is planned to display video images on the panels, allowing fans to watch Real Madrid matches from the street. In addition, the project includes the installation of a 360-degree panoramic screen inside the stadium.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - horizontal gaps between metal slats allow for natural ventilation of the interior.
© Marcus Bredt
history of the recent modernization
The stadium's transformation was carried out without disrupting the match schedule. After the contract award and a lengthy planning and permitting process, Real Madrid entrusted the Spanish construction company FCC as the general contractor.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - projection
© gmp Architekten
Work began in June 2019 and could continue without interruption for about two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when matches were held without fans.
The Santiago Bernabéu stadium in 2015
© Marcus Bredt
The redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu has completely transformed both the stadium's appearance and the club's image. The refreshed Santiago Bernabéu is meant to symbolize modernity while emphasizing Real Madrid's prestige and reflecting its aspirations.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of gmp Architekten.
