Inside Man Utd’s Old Trafford architects’ incredible projects from entire futuristic desert city to strange dog kennels
MANCHESTER UNITED have enlisted help from a global architecture group to develop a ‘masterplan’ for the Old Trafford area.
The Red Devils are looking to build a new stadium that will act as a ‘Wembley of the North’.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ambitious plans for the build, including a 100,000-fan capacity.
He also wants to regenerate the club-owned land surrounding the stadium by incorporating mixed-use developments that will benefit the local community.
With Man Utd intent on building a “world-class football destination and home” for supporters, club officials have appointed world-renowned group Foster + Partners.
The company has been involved with a number of huge projects, including the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium in London.
It also helped to build the Lusail Stadium, which hosted the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
But Foster + Partners do not just operate in sport…
South Sabah Al-Ahmad
Lord Foster, the group’s founder and executive chairman, is currently helping to develop South Sabah Al-Ahmad – a brand-new city located 80km south of Kuwait City in the Middle East.
It will be a home to around 280,000 people and create 145,000 jobs in a diverse range of industries.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
The new futuristic desert city, which spans 22,000,000 square metres, is expected to be completed by 2040.
It is also anticipated to cost £7.6BILLION ($10bn).
Dog kennels
Foster + Partners is also in the dog kennel market having created two innovative designs.
One of the products, the Dome-Home, features a geodesic shell structure with a removable fabric liner.
It received a gold at the International Design Awards.
The company also developed the Barc kennel, which is made up of a few components that can be easily put together and taken apart.
One Beverly Hills
Among several other projects, the group is also helping to transform 17.5 acres of land in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
The masterplan will introduce 10 acres of open space and breathtaking gardens, which will be a sustainable oasis of wellness, encouraging exploration and relaxation.
The landscape architect, RIOS, has curated over 200 species of California native plants and trees including palms, oaks, sycamores and succulents to be integrated
Some parts will be open exclusively for residents, club members and hotel guests with the remaining areas accessible to the public.
It is set to be completed in three years.
Huaxing New Town
Huaxing New Town is located at the centre of the Suzhou Creek CBD in Shanghai.
Foster + Partners was tasked with developing the 253,000 m2 area back in 2018.
The new development consists of two office towers and a connecting retail podium.
The tallest tower – around 320 metres high – is set to offer spectacular views of Huangpu River Bay, West Bund and Suzhou Creek.
The One
The 80-storey structure in Toronto will become Canada’s tallest building and its second tallest man-made structure after the CN Tower.
The first 18 storeys will include restaurants, event spaces, two major retailers and a luxury hotel.
Toronto’s Apple store is also expected to move into the building.
It is set to be completed next year.
Battersea Roof Gardens
Developed as part of the Battersea Power Station masterplan, the garden has 23,000 plants and 55 trees.
The mixed-use building features 436 apartments and a hotel.
It sits alongside 50 Electric Boulevard, a wellbeing-centred office building with 200,000 square feet of new workspace.
Battersea Roof Gardens opened last year.
What we know about the 'new' Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.
The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.
A capacity of 100,000 is expected.
It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.
United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.
There had been plans to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a scaled down second venue.
However, it’s looking increasing likely that it will in fact be entirely demolished.
The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
The club have appointed the architects Foster + Partners to come up with a “masterplan”. The company were behind Wembley Stadium.
Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.
The target is for completion by 2030.