Milan's new stadium will be called "Generali Stadium." It will emphasize verticality, almost as if it were a reference to the Duomo, with an external, diagonal, and intersecting structure . It will be highly visible from a distance because it is "positioned on a podium." Its bowl-shaped form conveys a sense of closeness, compactness, and participation . These are the details of the new project presented yesterday evening in Milan.
"San Siro is a legendary space, a landmark. It was a fascinating challenge. We wanted to recreate what San Siro already has, but taking it a step further. A stadium rooted in the present, leaning toward the future, and arching toward the past," explains Lord Norman Foster, one of the world's greatest architects, who recounts his motivations and inspiration behind the design of the new stadium.
Behind the 'Generali Stadium' are his mind and his hand and those of another famous architect like David Manica.
The new facility will be ready for the 2031-2032 season, will have a capacity of 71,500 people, will be 60 metres high and 270 metres long .
"The stands," Foster continues, "will be a wall of eleven thousand people, inclined at 37 degrees, the essence of the stadium."
The facility will be slightly elevated to facilitate access, and the external diagonal structure will feature the team colors of the team playing, blue and red, with projected faces of key players. The roof will be sustainable, capable of recycling rainwater, and will be powered by electricity, photovoltaic energy, and other solutions to reduce environmental impact.
"It will be known outside of Italy, an iconic place that transcends its mere function and is closely linked to football. It wants to embrace the fans. Many changes have been made in Milan, with taller buildings, but the soul remains. If we look to the future, the tradition will be preserved and will be immediately recognizable," Foster explains.
Work is expected to begin in 2028. The urban regeneration project will cover 281,000 square meters.
Among the features of the "Generali Stadium" are seats closer to the pitch and optimal visibility from every seat . The experience and the cheering are therefore central, with a structure that emphasizes fan noise while keeping it inside to avoid creating problems for the residential area.
"There will be flexibility: concerts and American football matches can be organized. A top-notch facility. Football remains central. When I thought about the first match," Manica says, "I wanted people to feel the same emotions they had felt, a stadium that was even more San Siro than before."
(Unioneonline)
