The Nou Camp Expansion

The Nou Camp Expansion

Home to one of most successful football teams of all time and arguably the most successful in the past decade, Barcelona’s Nou Camp has become an iconic symbol of the club’s greatness. However, for many years now, the club has been discussing the possibility of expanding the stadium.

The first question I asked when I heard this was why? The stadium is the largest in Europe and eleventh in the world, boasting a maximum capacity of 99,786 fans so why add more? It is simple really. The desire to watch the team’s matches are at a huge demand and no wonder due to the club’s recent dominance not just in Spain but in Europe.

The club were pondering two ideas for expansion, the first being the expansion of the original stadium whilst the second was to build a new one. The later proposal had plans developed by Lord Norman Foster and was to hold a capacity of 106,000 people. The build featured a new roof and outer-shell which surrounded the original stadium and had a beautiful mosaic like outside with translucent tiles that glowed during games.

However, on the 22^nd January 2014, it was decided that the original stadium was to be expanded, scrapping Lord Foster’s plans. The new plan sets to increase the capacity to 105,000 by adding a new, much steeper first tier. The stadium will also have improved functionality and accessibility making the venue which was built in 1957 much more modern. The stadium will have a roof that covers all the tiers, instead of just one and from first images looks magnificent. I am sure the expansion will continue the Nou Camp’s symbolism of Barcelona’s success.

If any of you have been to the Nou Camp then I am sure you will agree with me here that the upper tiers are already extremely steep. I went for a tour of the stadium and felt terrified of how steep the upper tier was. I cannot image how more ominous this feeling must be during a full capacity match.  The new tier may offer a better viewing experience but there really is a limit to how steep you should make your stadium and Barcelona’s is already too much.

With all that in mind, plus the 2021 expected completion date and the £495 million estimated build cost, is all worth it for an extra 5,214 fans per match? I would not say so because by 2021 the demand for tickets will outgrow the expansion and so further plan discussions will take place right after competition.

Britain's aviation hub

Britain’s Airport Hub

The issue of the UK’s aviation crisis is hot in the Government, the media and society. Heathrow cannot cope with the predicted increase of flights - from 140 million passengers to 400 million by 2050. So the debate for a plan needs to be made quickly. On the 17^th December, the Airport’s Commission shortlisted its three options for expanding the UK’s aviation capacity. These are; adding a third runway to Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow and building a new runway at Gatwick. The Commission also stated that they have not ruled out the possibility of the construction of a new runway in the Thames Estuary.

 

Expanding Heathrow is a strongly opposed option because the large airport already has 5 terminals and 2 runways with proposals of any expansion immediately opposed by locals. However building a new hub would decrease the use of Heathrow and not only lose the business money but also cause tens of thousands of people to lose their jobs. Another arguing case against the expansion of Heathrow is that by the time a third runway is built (estimated 2030) there would be a demand for a fourth runway.

A Thames Estuary Airport has been proposed for decades but nothing has progressed due to environmental concerns for bird species. Ideas range from runways built on artificial islands which would be connected by shuttles to the mainland terminals and then railways into London and to the Channel Tunnel.

However, another Thames airport idea is Sir Norman Foster’s Thames Hub Airport which would be built on reclaimed land and would involve a new Thames tidal barrier which would provide greater flooding protection and tidal energy.

In July, Foster + Partners submitted the final proposal for the Thames Estuary airport. These plans not only outline the 4 runway airport but also the new and much needed Thames flood barrier, and the transport links. The proposal is quite staggering due to the amount of infrastructure that is needed but really the UK’s railways are already well organised so would not need drastic developments.

The proposal for the construction of this new airport is the realisation that to secure Britain’s future economy, their global supply chains needs to be expanded. With the construction of additional runways at London’s main airports, Heathrow and Gatwick facing strong opposition, building a 4 runway one by the Thames Estuary is seen to be the favoured proposal for increasing British international trade and travel connections. The new 4 runway airport will quadruple the flight destinations to Asia and the Americas, and will service 110 million passengers a year.

The airport proposal has been submitted with high speed rail connections to London’s main stations and to other British cities. As well as linking to the nearby motorways such as the M25. The construction will also include the building of a new Thames flood barrier. With the current one needing to be rebuilt to guarantee London’s embankments’ safety, the Thames airport construction fits well with the design.

 

Foster + Partners success with many other high scale designs such as the Beijing airport makes me even more supportive of the Thames transportation hub because it not only is the best solution for the British trade economy but also as the firm is normal very efficient with delivering successful, beautiful designs.

by Tim Spears