Of Easter eggs and post-modernism: I dislike the “nou Camp Nou”
By: Isaiah | September 25th, 2007
When it was announced that the Camp Nou was going to be renovated/refurbished, I thought it was a fantastic idea. You make the largest stadium in Europe a little bigger and maybe replace anything that’s ailing (be it physical infrastructure or how they distribute beer). I figured a slight makeover for the outside consisting of some cleaning and spiffying up.
But I never imagined this. It’s hideous and it makes me think about all the aborted Easter eggs I made as a 5 year old. I realize that it’s in the vein of Gaudi, that Barcelona has a history of “great” architecture, and that most people don’t react quite as negatively as I do to the word “post-modernism”. Let me hand it over for a second to the great Phil Ball:
“Sir Norman is going to re-model the stadium for a cool 250 million, which will put another six thousand on the gate every fortnight and turn the outside of the stadium into a sort of enormous wedding cake, with multi-coloured hundred-and-thousand confectionery sprinkles dotted all over the surface. It’s supposed to reflect Gaudi’s work of course (clever chap Foster ‘ did his homework), but just give me the rows of backsides any day…
…Call me a cynic, but for me the venture was all about Laporta, not Barcelona. The stadium’s fine, for pity’s sake. Just design a nice plaque (1957-2007) and nail it up it over the entrance, play an exhibition match against a World XI, give the money to charity and then get on with the next fifty years.”
I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Ball. The thing that gets me is that most of the changes are really solid. Look at the pictures from the official site and tell me it looks good and I’ll call you a jerk. My personal preference is to forgo the roof, but I can live with it. It’s great that they’re adding better access to the upper deck and some wheelchair access or something, but for the love of Pele, why the confetti!? Why? 250million euros to become the Technicolor dreamcoat version of Allianz Arena…yay?
I’ve made my views on the new design known, now how about yours?
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Comments
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I personally like it. I thought it was tacky at first but then I realized how appropriate it is for an artistic city like Barcelona. A unique club needs a unique stadium and while I can see why someone would dislike it I’m glad we aren’t getting another soulless, corporate stadium in the vein of Emirates and the new Wembley (which I was afraid of when I heard who was designing it)
Posted from
Canada
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You know, the confetti would look sort of cool if it weren’t in all the skittles colors. Like maybe red, or blue. But all the colors are just hurting my eyes.
I personally love soulless corporate stadiums, especially if they look like an alien spaceship landing on earth. Lyon’s new stadium will look like an underwater bioluminescent sea creature.
Posted from
United States -
I kinda like it. I used to live in Singapore, and there’s a theatre there with a similar (albeit monochrome) “skin”. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianlloyd/322590938/ (I didn’t take these pictures, BTW.)
Posted from
United States -
I love it.
I agree with Phil on Laporta, but if he’s worried about Barca sliding into soul-less corporatism, well, I’m sorry to say that it’s already far too late. By about 20 years.
On the other hand, I’m sad to be losing my favourite thing about the current Camp Nou - the open bowl shape. But I can see how the spectators would want a roof over their head.
Posted from
New Zealand -
I really like, specially since they can even show games and stuff on those screans, I love it actually very artistic and tecnologic
Posted from
El Salvador -
Because I said I’d do it, I will: you’re a bunch of jerks.
That said, it has grown on me a little, but not much. I just don’t see why we have to have so many freaking colors. The roof, fine, especially since most (if not all) matches are at night, but that confetti crap is still fugly. Quite a visceral reaction by me once I read “post-modern,” but still.
Nolan: it would be appropriate for an artistic city like Barcelona if I didn’t think that there’s no way to make a stadium beautiful on the outside without failing to do so on a thousand levels. After all, large buildings tend to be more functional if they’re simpler (and also less expensive). That’s why I think this stadium will turn out like Allianz Arena, which is cool in concept, but stupid as crap in reality. I’ve never been to any “high-tech” stadiums, really, but Gillette Stadium in Foxboro is absolutely gorgeous on the inside, even if it’s “soulless” on the outside. And that’s what matters. I don’t spend my time outside of stadiums thinking about it’s aesthetic beauty.
Maybe it’s different in Europe where stadiums make up part of the city much more often than they do here in the States, but living near Cleveland I found myself looking up at Jacobs Field and what was then Gund Arena quite often and despite the fact that neither was particularly fancy, neither was an eyesore. Stadiums should blend in, not stand out. That’s just my thought.
Posted from
United States -
Call me a jerk too, I think it’s great and will be the envy of all soccer clubs. It’s a class design.
Posted from
United States -
I think it’ll be great. Apparently the colors will change, so I hope they just stick to the Dark Blue, Dark Red, and Yellow colors of Catalonia…
Posted from
United States -
Ugly. And my prediction: it will weather horribly. In five years, expect it to look like a dirty relic of communist Russian architecture.
I will give the unique city, unique stadium arguement, though.
Posted from
United States -
Okay, Erick: you’re a jerk. But I’m glad it has support among the fans cause at least I can take solace in the fact that others like it. We’ll see what it looks like when it’s done and maybe I’ll change my opinion.
John: good point about weathering. Now I’m wondering about that too.
Perhaps I’m just pissed that I won’t get to see the Camp Nou as it is now…
Posted from
United States -
UEFA 5 star venue AND Gaudi tribute? Double extra awesome. Go to Barcelona, look at the Sagrada Familia, and tell me Gaudi didn’t have some sweet architecture goin on in his head. I think it looks good. The picture posted here in the article doesn’t do it justice.
Posted from
United States -
Isaiah, construction doesn’t start for a few years, so you’ve got a chance to go and see the Camp Nou before they get to work. (I’m hoping to do the same in the next few years.)
Posted from
Australia
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