FC Barcelona Finalists Announced
John Hill
8. September 2015
The Espai Barça jury and the technical committee in a meeting. (Photo: GERMAN PARGA-FCB)
FC Barcelona has announced the finalists in the architectural competition for the Espai Barça, which aims to be the "biggest and best sports facility that the world has ever seen in a city center."
The Espai Barça consists of two pieces of new construction: the New Camp Nou (stadium for 105,000 spectators) and the New Palau Blaugrana (for 12,000 spectators and including an ice rink, commercial zone, modern offices and parking).
The jury – made up of five members from FC Barcelona, three members from the COAC and one member from Barcelona CIty Council – selected the finalists from 45 submissions received for the two projects.
In a statement, FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu stated, "We are very satisfied with the level of studies presented and we believe that those chosen include many of the best firms in the world that do this kind of sports architecture and in time we will see the fruits. Now we have to wait a few months to see the finalists' proposals and reconvene the jury."
Eight finalists – teams made up of international and local architects – have been named for the New Camp Nou:
• ARUP SPORT + TALLER D’ARQUITECTURA R. BOFILL
• BIG + IDOM + BAAS ARQUITECTES
• GENSLER SPORT + OAB
• HKS + COX + BATLLE I ROIG ARQUITECTES
• KSS + MATEO ARQUITECTURA
• NIKKEN SEKKEI + PASCUAL I AUSIÓ ARQUITECTES
• POPULOUS + MIAS ARQUITECTES + RCR ARQUITECTES
Six finalists – also teams with international and local architects – have been named for the New Palau Blaugrana:
• GMP + GCA ARQUITECTES
• HOK + TAC ARQUITECTES
• MAKE + BCQ ARQUITECTES
• MANGADO ARQUITECTOS + BACH ARQUITECTES + R. SANABRIA ARQUITECTES + I. PARICIO
• WILKINSON EYRE ARCHITECTS + A. BALAGUER RIERA ARQUITECTES