The aim of Bike The Floating Stadium by architects Quentin Perchet & Gabriel Scerri is to design a gift to the city, a symbol of sustainability, and a 24/7 open public space gathering in an exemplary way for leisure, entertainment, and philanthropy. Their concept consists in driving bicycles and pedestrians from their homes to an exceptional viewing platform of the city, through a promenade along the water in the Noord 7 area of Amsterdam. More images and architects’ description after the break.
What is the social function of a stadium? Nowadays, a stadium is an enclosed area, hosting sporting events and sometimes concerts, only accessible during theses shows. Can such a large structure become a more integrated part of the city, maybe an open public space, or a distinguished landmark? The project proposal that we make has been following these ideas, of a 24/7 public accessibility, and of a stadium as a cultural landmark showing the openness of a contemporary city.
Amsterdam is, by its quality of living, architecture diversity, and sustainable disposals, a remarkable example of a contemporary city within Europe. Almost a century ago, the 1928 Summer Olympics took place in the south of Amsterdam. In 1996, the Arena stadium opened in the Amsterdam Zuidoost area.
Today, the future of renewing and extending the city is up north. The potential of the northern part of Amsterdam has already started to be exploited: a new Film Museum is being built in front of Central Station, Shell’s new headquarters have left a large abandoned industrial area just next to it, and a lot of pop-up events by designers, architects and artists appear in the area. Connections are good and being improved with boats, and studies for a new tunnel, and a metro connection are going on. Moreover, a bike path along the river IJ is planned, to connect the Noord 1 to Noord 5 harbor areas.
What we would like to propose, is to settle the new stadium on the Noord 7 area, that would allow the development of a whole new riverfront, accessible to pedestrians and bikes, that would link Noord 1 to Noord 9 with a green belt along the water. The stadium would be an engine, just like the new film museum, part of a sequence along the river, to drive the reconquest of the north waterfront by pedestrians and bicycles.
Our choice is to build a floating stadium that would be able to move to another location if needed, that would preserve the river, and that would allow enjoying the IJ water. Then it would be a symbol of adaptability that means sustainability. The building is wrapped by several bicycle ramps. Those provide a direct access to the stadium, and views on the cityscape. People can also come by private boat or public transportation and land on a dock with shops and restaurants at the bottom of the stadium. Then, the football field could become the largest open-air swimming pool in Amsterdam, with filtered and cleaned water from the IJ. The athletic tracks would become a protected beach. Or extra seats could be added. In winter, the swimming pool transforms again into ice skating rings.
The football field is able to slide into the hull of the stadium. The hull also contains all the technical areas, changing rooms and services related to the function of the stadium. The structure of the building is made of steel, and the floater is built the same way as a ship, reinforced on the sides to stand the oblique forces that are applied by the weight of the structure. It’s anchored in the river by underwater cables. Two arches support the roof and the suspended bicycle paths. The whole structure is balanced thanks to its shape and cables.
