Barcelona FC unveil New Palau Blaugrana and set out plans for €600m sports district
FC Barcelona has unveiled new images and a video for the New Palau Blaugrana – a multi-sports and concert arena created by US sports architects HOK and Spanish practice TAC Arquitectes.
The highly flexible complex will comprise three areas that can operate independently: a 10,000-seat arena, an auxiliary court for 2,000 spectators, an ice rink with room for 800 spectators and a campus for the club’s football academy, FCB Escola.
The main sports hall, sat within a large bowl, will meet the requirements of basketball's Euroleague and will host matches for the club's basketball offshoot, FC Barcelona Lassa, from the 2019/2020 basketball season. A large LED screen on the lower portion of the stadium's rooftop will screen footage from games.
The court will feature 18 VIP boxes, two ‘skybars’ and configurable seating – all of which will allow the venue to host cultural events such as concerts.
“This site has tremendous potential,” said Daniel Hajjar, managing principal for HOK’s London office. “We look forward to working with the Barcelona City Council, the Barça technical teams, the residents of Barcelona and TAC Arquitectes to further develop and integrate our concept.”
Espai Barça
The New Palau Blaugrana, which replaces a facility built in the 1970s – is part of a much wider planned sports district called Espai Barça, which the club says will be “the most important sports project in Europe and the world.”
New details of the financing, design and long-term vision for the €600m (US$651.9m, £467.4m) scheme have been revealed by the club ahead of a major announcement, expected this month, on the architecture team who will redevelop the Nou Camp into a “state-of-the-art, 105,000-capacity stadium that will be one of the very best in the world.”
In addition to the New Palau Blaugrana, the Espai Barça district will include the new-look Nou Camp alongside a 6,000-capacity UEFA category III Miniestadi for its youth teams – designed by Batlle i Roig Arquitectes.
In addition, new administrative buildings will be constructed, existing facilities will be reorganised and the club’s museum and shop will be expanded.
“The project will generate new opportunities for the our social and economic development, increase revenue and the value of the club’s assets, boost sponsorship, improve conditions for our athletes, recover architectural excellence, achieve environmental sustainability and create venues for a 21st century Barça,” said the club. “It reflects a trend shaping sports districts across the globe as they aim to generate activity 365 days a year.
“This is every Barça fan’s dream, one that will become a reality and a legacy to be enjoyed by future generations.”
The club added that funding will be generated for these projects “without affecting the club’s sports or its members.” It said that €200m (US$217.3m, £155.8m) will be raised in exchange for adding a name to the stadium and it will also receive a syndicated loan.
A recent report by professional services firm Deloitte revealed Barcelona is the second richest club in Europe, with 2014/15 revenues of €560.8m (US$609.3m £426.6m). Arch rivals Real Madrid – who are attempting to develop their own facilities – topped the list.
Barcelona FC Espai Barça Parc Blaugrana Barcelona La Liga architecture design Nou Camp
HOK win architecture competition to design multi-sports arena for Barcelona FC
Top 20 richest clubs in Europe worth £5bn+, says Deloitte
Sachin Tendulkar and Cristiano Ronaldo team up for football entertainment centres
FC Barcelona to invest in women’s sport and university as it attempts to hits €1bn revenues
Real Madrid stadium plans blocked by city council
Real Madrid unveils Tetris-like design for new HQ
AECOM, BIG and Populous among architectural heavyweights in final for €600m redevelopment of FC Barcelona's Nou Camp
Real Madrid’s €440m stadium project suffers setback
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
BodyHoliday plans 10-15 locations in the next 15 years
Floating wellbeing destination planned for London’s Royal Docks
Aman Group to open second Janu in Dubai with inaugural Janu Club
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
