Populous Collaborate with Audi and Wired to Imagine Smart Stadium of the Future
September 13, 2017
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The Populous Studio in London was delighted to partner with internationally-renowned car manufacturer Audi and Wired Magazine, to imagine the smart stadium of the future as part of Audi’s ‘Driven to Win’ series.
Populous’ Christopher Lee, MD EMEA, spoke to Wired UK: “[Stadiums of the future] will comprise shops and hotels, side by side with cultural venues and schools for the local community to become part of the city’s larger ecosystem. There’s often an investment in transport infrastructure, partly funded by clubs and partly by governments. What works for the stadium also creates better transportation for the community.”
Key elements of the design include:
- Energy: Tomorrow’s stadia will produce energy via roof-mounted wind turbines and a biodigester. Movable roof scales will allow air and light to flow in, or keep rain out. Low-energy LEDs will be used for lighting the venue and marking the pitch – which can be reconfigured for multiple sports. IT staff in a subterranean control room will interface with an AI management system.
- Transport: Getting fans to and from the stadium will be crucial, so Populous has incorporated a transport hub for the whole city, with an underground rail terminus. Piloted car lanes will enable the drop-off and pickup of fans with minimal congestion, before parking off site. Flying cars will deliver people from further afield. Pedestrians can access the site via bridges.
- Experience: Hospitality suites and pitch-side seating will give VIP guests commanding views of the action. Fans will be able to get hands-on with new tech and exclusive content in underground fan zones by using holographic overlays providing stats and analysis. To enable year-round use, the pitch will be retractable, with a secondary pitch for other sports below.
- Multi-Use: Future stadia will be superblocks: Populous’s design has residential units and an educational hub for people living nearby. Retail outlets mean the stadium will also be a shopping destination, and a man-made river will become a water-sports venue. Inside, the public will enjoy sustainably sourced foods in the restaurants, while kitchens will feed staff and fans.
For more information, contact the design team.