15/11/1999
Wembley Stadium Submitted for Planning Application to Brent Council
Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL), the developers of the new National Stadium, have submitted plans for the new English National Stadium at Wembley, designed by architects World Stadium Team (Foster and Partners and HOK+LOBB Sports Architecture), to Brent Council.
The famous twin towers have been replaced with a spectacular 133 metre high arch, a development from the four masts originally proposed last July. The arch will tower over the 52 metre high 90,000-seater stadium and provide a dramatic landmark, illuminated at night and visible from points across London.
The planning application proposes a stadium with a capacity of 90,000 for football and rugby and 68,000 for athletics. Both of these figures exceed the requirements of the National Lottery. The athletics capacity could be increased up to 80,000, if required for use as an Olympics venue, by introducing an additional temporary rake of lower seating.
Lord Foster said ''It is a triumphant arch. In the spirit of any team, we have sought to push back the limits to generate an improved performance and in this case design''. Rod Sheard from HOK+LOBB said ''We're on the launch pad and are ready to launch the world's greatest stadium. not just the greatest stadium right now but the greatest stadium the world has ever built.''
The new Wembley stadium is the centrepiece of England's bid for the 2006 World Cup and was described by Campaign Director Alec McGivan as ''The jewel in the crown of our 2006 Bid''. The FIFA Inspection Group to England were recently briefed on the plans for the new stadium, the Inspection Group Chairman, Alan Rothenberg commented that ''..the new Wembley will be a magnificent facility''.
The key view of the stadium for most visiting fans will be the walk up Olympic Way towards the main faade. This view will be framed by a massive arch which will create a dynamic and spectacular feature high above the stadium. A larger and completely uninterrupted public concourse around the north entrance has been made possible by the elimination of the four masts in favour of the single arch.
The front faade is punctuated centrally by a 2,000 seat Banqueting Hall with a public viewing terrace above. Circulation spaces run from either side of the Hall with escalators carrying the fans to the upper levels.
The sliding roof remains an integral part of the design for the new Stadium. Wembley's pitch is famously one of the finest in the world. Maintaining this quality while designing a new stadium that is considerably taller than the existing building, and placing fans closer to the pitch has been a key challenge for the design team. Options such as a palletised pitch (moving the pitch in and out of the Stadium between events) or regularly relaying the pitch were rejected as inappropriate for Wembley. Computer models have allowed the team to track air movement and sunlight on the existing pitch and a unique sliding roof has been developed to create optimum viewing conditions in the new Stadium. The roof will be left open between events but can be moved to line up with the touch-line within 15 minutes, ensuring every spectator is sheltered during an event.
In bright sunlight the roof can be withdrawn to allow clear TV pictures. At 3pm on Cup Final day, for instance, only the two southern corner flags will be in shadow.
The curved plan form of the new bowl will enhance the intimate atmosphere within the stadium whilst the acoustics of the roof enclosure will recreate the famous 'Wembley Roar'.
An athletics track will only be built when it is needed. This ensures that spectators for all events will sit as close to the action as possible.
One of the most recognised features of Wembley is the presentation of trophies from the Royal Box rather than on the pitch. The new Royal Box is in the same position, in the middle of the north stand, as in the current ground. Teams will walk up to the box to collect trophies.
To accommodate an external concourse all around the Stadium, the new building will move 30 metres north, towards Wembley Park Station. The curved enclosures of the stadium at concourse level allows for easy movement for fans into and around the stadium.
Projects:
Wembley Stadium
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