ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Bjarke Ingels: 'Dinosaur' new stadiums are 'all the same'

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels has said that modern-day stadiums lack individuality and called for more design studios to be given the opportunity to design sports facilities.

Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, the BIG founder said “stadiums are just a total dinosaur”.

"It's the same three or four global offices that have designed all the stadiums,” he said. “Then it becomes this self-fulfilling prophecy, where you have to be a stadium designer to design a stadium. And that means they're all the same."

Ingels was talking to the magazine about his experience of designing the proposed new stadium for US National Football League franchise the Washington Redskins – BIG’s first stadium project.

Described by the Redskins as “a new stadium concept”, the design includes a series of unorthodox features such as a moat for kayaking and surfing; man-made beaches; abseiling ropes descending from the walls; and a grass covered parking lot that encourages spectators to organise communal pre-game picnics from their vehicles.

Ingels’ vision for the stadium has attracted criticism from some quarters, with Twitter users questioning the need for such amenities and the likelihood of BIG delivering the vision presented in the renderings.

However, the architect told The Washington Post in March that stadiums should have multiple uses because “it is a waste of resources to have giant facilities that are only active 10 times a year.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Ingels defended himself against accusations that the reason for his success is his ability to promote headline-grabbing concepts.

He said: "I think the biggest backhanded criticism-compliment I get is that I'm 'good at communicating.' Which implies that you're bad at doing. To me, it's a strength that there's clarity. We know what we're doing, and that's why we can also explain it. The fact that something is actually understandable and relatable doesn't mean that it's unsophisticated or banal. It just means that it's crystal-clear.

“If you can't explain it, that doesn't necessarily mean it's so brilliant that ordinary mortals can't fathom it. It might just mean that it makes no sense."

Bjarke Ingels  BIG  architecture  sport  stadium design  Washington Redskins 
Related stories
14 Mar 2016

REVEALED: Bjarke Ingels' first NFL stadium will be surrounded by a moat for surfing

25 Jan 2016

Are Bjarke Ingels Group designing their first NFL stadium?

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels has said that modern-day stadiums lack individuality and called for more design studios to be given the opportunity to design sports facilities. Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, the BIG founder said “stadiums are just a total dinosaur”. "It's the same three or four global offices that have designed all the stadiums,” he said. “Then it becomes this self-fulfilling prophecy, where you have to be
CLD,SAR,ARC,DES,PHR
Ingels said 'the same three or four global offices have designed all the stadiums' / Jonas Bie
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7781     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7781     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: Barr + Wray Ltd
Founded in 1959, Barr + Wray is recognised as a world-leading provider of spa design, engineering and pool & spa equipment.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
Elora Hardy’s TED talk in 2015
"I needed to be part of something sustainable. It really came down to that"

Bali-based design firm Ibuku has been making headlines with its beautiful bamboo structures and now has its sights set on the resort market. We speak to the team

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
Project commisioner Jordi Moix wants Espai Barça to create new value streams for the club
"Whatever your allegiances, you have to admit that no football club has a brand quite like FC Barcelona. "

FC Barcelona is taking on its rivals with its ambitious €600m expansion project Kim Megson speaks to the architects involved

Dan Pearson worked with Japanese landscape designer Fumiaki Takano on Tokachi Millennium Forest
"It’s a public space that’s managed very beautifully and has a strong message of sustainability"

It’s a huge source of sadness that the Garden Bridge became as political as it did, says the project’s landscape designer

features
Heather Henninger (left) and Nathan Stevenson (right)
"Our goal is to be one of the largest dedicated green wellness communities in the world"

A new green wellness community for Mexico

MAD has offices in Beijing, Los Angeles and New York It is now led by Yansong, Dang Qun and Yosuke Hayano
Chinese architect Ma Yansong
"We as humans can learn from nature and then move beyond it"

The founder of MAD on nature and urbanism, the Harbin Opera House and battling conservatism

The new White Hart Lane stadium aims to connect with the local community
Christopher Lee, managing director at Populous, is overseeing the stadium development
"Creating an accessible public space is important commercially, but it’s even more important socially"

Lifts the lid on the design of White Hart Lane

cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
cladkit product news
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo