Future Spotify Camp Nou wins International Architecture Award 2023

The design by architectural firms Nikken Sekkei and b720 together with IDOM engineering for the new Spotify Camp Nou is one of the winning projects in the 2023 edition of the International Architecture Awards (IAA) 2023. The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies have announced the winning projects, one of which is the Barça stadium, recognised for maintaining the essence of the original project and at the same time being so seamlessly integrated into the city and the neighbourhood.

Specifically, this renewed design seeks to strike a balance between preserving and enhancing the essence of the Medios, Soteras and García-Barbón project that was unveiled in 1957, and openness, transparency and a link with the city and particularly the neighbourhood of Les Corts, as described in the originally proposal by Nikken Sekkei and Pascual-Ausió Arquitectes in 2016.

The project also includes an ambitious architectural overhaul to reinforce the Barça identity, a relationship with Catalan tradition and architecture, and the redevelopment of the interior spaces to improve spectator comfort, accessibility and safety, thereby raising the financial potential and minimising the repercussions on members.

The comprehensive transformation of the Spotify Camp Nou will make it the largest stadium in Europe, with the capacity for 104,000 spectators. The project is characterised by preserving the structure of the two original stands from 1957, adding a new structure to the third tier, introducing two tiers of hospitality areas and installing a roof across the whole stadium.

Benchmark stadium in sustainability and technology

Sustainability is the essence of the stadium, showcasing the club's commitment to sustainable mobility, facilitating access by public transport and promoting electric mobility. Energy savings and efficiency will be achieved by installing 18,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels on the new roof, which will generate enough electricity to power 600 homes. And a geothermal system and an urban heating and cooling system will be installed that will reduce energy consumption by 30%, while the rainwater collected from the roof will be reused to irrigate all the vegetation on the future campus ten times a year. As for biodiversity, the native fauna is already protected and woodland cover has increased by 15%.

The future Spotify Camp Nou will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies, two 360º screens in the second and third tiers, and three 26x9 metre video scoreboards that will offer a new spectator experience. The security and access control system will also be improved, and the possibilities offered by 5G connectivity will be fully exploited.

IAA awards, among the most distinguished in the world

The IAA Awards, now in their 20th edition, are one of the oldest international awards and are among the most distinguished for recognising excellence in projects worldwide. In 2023, the competition received more than 750 proposals.

The official award ceremony will take place on September 15 at the Acropolis in Greece. An exhibition of the award-winning projects titled "The city and the World" will also be held at Contemporary Space Athens until October 1.