Over the last 77 years, few in sport have been decorated with as much glory as Real Madrid CF, arguably the most important sports team in the world, and one-half of Spanish football’s pride alongside arch-rivals FC Barcelona. Alfredo Di Stefano, Raul, Hugo Sanchez, and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the storied legends draped in their famous white jersey — contributing to Real Madrid’s hoisting of a mammoth 100 combined trophies. The most recent triumphs came last season in the form of their 32nd domestic league title, and record 15th Champions League trophy. Yet, amidst the churn of changing faces and sporting eras, a sole force has remained unmoved; the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

While the stadium has served as the club’s home ground since 1947, the iconic venue has recently been conspicuously re-imagined for the first time in its long history. Planning for the USD $1.91 billion, 175,000-square-metre project began in 2012 and has been led by Spanish studio L35 Architects in collaboration with Spanish studio Ribas & Ribas, and German-based designers gmp — a team that won the competition to redesign the Santiago Bernabéu in 2014. The designers responded to a brief to redevelop the stadium as a mixed-use attraction, combining a dedicated soccer venue with a range of additional activations — such as concerts, public events, and other sports — while bringing the facility up to modern safety, efficiency and accessibility standards, and introducing a retractable roof.

The stadium in the midst of reconstruction.

The complexity of the renovation was amplified by Real Madrid’s busy soccer season, which was never interrupted by construction during a five-year buildout which began in 2019. To minimize both disruption and upfront carbon cost, the architects opted to maintain the existing building’s structure, while subtly re-organizing and expanding circulation — a process that entailed moving two of the stadium’s prominent exterior stairs. In addition, the stadium bowl was expanded by 3,000 seats, while a new retractable pitch (which has quickly become the standard for multi-use stadiums) allows for a smooth transition into a concert stage or NFL football gridiron.

To accomodate the new program — and create a bold visual signature — the designers wrapped the body of the stadium in a ventilated façade comprising of curved steel louvers. Extending seamlessly into the new roof, the dramatic envelope is also subtly contoured to demarcate entrances, creating intuitive wayfinding within a sculptural body. As the L35 team puts it, “This architectural solution provides the stadium with an iconic presence that establishes a strong link with the city.” When no matches are taking place, visitors are able to enjoy a skywalk tour of the grounds. A new museum also provides a chance to sift through Real Madrid’s storied history, while retail spaces and restaurants further deliver on the promise of all-year dynamism.    

For one of soccer’s most vaunted cathedrals, it all adds up to a dramatic transformation. Change is nothing new for the Santiago Bernabéu. Since its inception in the 1940s, the stadium — originally designed by architects Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler — has seen updates and touch-ups consistently implemented. A renovation took place ahead of the 1982 World Cup, where the stadium played host to four games, including the final. In the 1990s, third tiers were added in the stands behind both goals and the west stands of the stadium, along with a retractable roof on the east stand, as well as four towers added in each corner of the grounds to facilitate smoother entry and departure for fans.

Additionally, new UEFA rules were set for teams across Europe to have seating areas available for all spectators at the stadium, eliminating standing areas. This brought the seating capacity at the stadium to 106,000 — something that was brought down to 81,044 seats after another round of renovations in 2001. In the present day, however, modernizing in the name of diversification is a growing trend. Stadiums are no longer solely a home for football, but for community and culture. Case in point? Taylor Swift inaugurated the refurbished stadium with a double concert in May.