#TDS24 Preview: The world’s first ‘garden stadium’

We are delighted to welcome Mark John Fenwick, one of the two founding partners of Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FIA), to our speaker line-up at our 12th annual TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, 2-3-4 Dec 2024.

With more than 35 years of experience, Mark continues to push the boundaries of innovation in sports architecture, and the focus of this Q&A is no exception: the Serbia National Stadium Project.

With a circular shape and a unique and original facade consisting of four “rings” that will include garden areas, the new Serbia National Stadium stands as a highly efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly project. Construction began with the symbolic laying of the first stone in May 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026. (Source: www.fenwickiribarren.com)

Ahead of #TDS24, we caught up with Mark to preview what will make Serbia’s National Stadium one of the most innovative in football stadium design.

TheStadiumBusiness: What are the key drivers behind the Serbia National Stadium Project?

Mark Fenwick: The main drivers behind the Serbian National Stadium are developed on many fronts. In principle, the main driver is to create a unique and amazing new National stadium for Serbia and Belgrade.

It is meant to be a stadium with a strong and modern architectural design vision. In this unique concept, different levels of landscaped trees develop the façade on a terraced façade – a stadium called the Garden Stadium looks to evoke the Serbian landscape and the vision of sustainability.

The stadium is also designed to become a truly economically sustainable venue. The project develops areas that are valid both on game days and on non-game days, bringing modern operational and diversity of uses in both the bowl and the stadium, allowing not only the best football experience but also the best operational experience on non-game days.

The stadium will also become a catalyst to develop a new area of Belgarde, dialogue with the new Belgarde Trade Fair nearby, and support the hosting of the EXPO 2027.

TSB: What’s in the pipeline for Fenwick Iribarren Architects over the next six to 12 months?

MF: FIA is looking at many opportunities worldwide, mainly in stadium design for new or refurbished stadiums. Possible projects are being studied in countries such as Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Malaysia, Spain and Portugal, Czech Repùblic, Georgia, and even new schemes in the USA.

Since the amazing success of the World Cup in Qatar 2022, the FIA is looking to participate in the next World Cup in Spain and Portugal, with the option of working in five stadiums in the 2030 World Cup, and is looking to project opportunities for stadiums and training grounds in the World Cup of 2034.

TSB: What are you most looking forward to about the Design & Development Summit 2024?

MF: The Design & Development Summit’s excellent success is world-renowned, and we feel that our participation in the event will bring us an excellent opportunity to meet major stakeholders in the stadium business.

It will also allow us to share our expertise and exceptional projects in sports design with others and have a dialogue with participants about the future of stadium design.

Will you join Mark and hundreds of other venue sector leaders at TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit, the world’s premier gathering of professionals involved in the finance, design, delivery, refurbishment and operation of sports and entertainment venues?