New stadium for football club AZ Alkmaar.
UEFA semi-final playing football club AZ Alkmaar urgently needed a new stadium. A large triangular plot of land, alongside the A9 national highway at the southern entrance to the city, has been chosen as the location for the stadium.
The leading principle for the football stadium was to provide the best sightlines for all the spectators. The stands are as close to the pitch as possible in order to create an intimate atmosphere. The form of the stadium is to a large degree determined by the layout of the seating. The number of seats is greatest at the favourite spots on the edge of the playing field, at the level of the centre-line and behind both goals. At the corners, usually the least favourite seating areas, the stands are lower. The stand seating faces towards the centre of the football pitch, resulting in a fan-shaped stand plan. The stadium canopy follows the varying height of the stands, the skyboxes and the technical spaces in a flowing line.
The new stadium can accommodate 16,800 visitors and includes space for business activities, lounges, restaurants and skyboxes. Catering facilities and fanshops were designed for the "paying public".
Winner: Most Beautiful Buidling of the Region of Alkmaar 2008
Client: Midreth
Project: 0249
