The stadium is being built for the French Rugby Federation and that is why it was named Grand Stade FFR. The participants of the competition were tasked with creating not just a sports arena, but a multifunctional complex in which, in addition to competitions, cultural and social events can be held.
It was on this basis that Populous proposed an unconventional building configuration: unlike most Grand Stade stadiums, the FFR will have the shape of a parallelepiped, the sides of which are made up of stone panels and LCD monitors. As the authors themselves explain, when designing the largest indoor stadium in Europe, they sought to liken it to a fortified city, outside of which athletes and spectators will feel completely safe. Hence the choice in favor of stone as the main facade material. In addition, the white stone is intended to resemble the quarries of Beaux de Provence.
The heart of this “fortification” is the sports arena and the grandstand bowl, and along the perimeter they are surrounded by numerous technical and public areas. This part of the complex is separated from the field itself and the spectator's seats by transparent partitions, which, if necessary, can be displaced. The sliding roof will allow matches and all kinds of shows at any time of the year - this was done primarily for the sake of the French rugby team, for which the new stadium should become the main venue for home matches. And the four plasma screens placed on the facades will make the brightest moments and results of these games available to the general public.
A. M.
