San Mamés at the A+I conference: architecture + engineering to build the city of the future
On September 18, IDOM presented San Mamés in the A+I Conference, which was held in the hall of the former post office at the University of Málaga and organized by Estudio Seguí in collaboration with Airzone. The conference brought together firms such as Bakpak, Mecanoo, Ayesa, Foster, Rubio, Sacyr, and IDOM. The goal was to reflect on how architecture and engineering can and should collaborate from the beginning of a project.
César Azcárate and Armando Bilbao showcased the San Mamés stadium in the A+I Conference as a prime example of this collaboration. They discussed the history of Athletic Club, Bilbao’s transformation from an industrial to a cultural city, and the symbolism of the old stadium as the “cathedral” of soccer.
The new San Mamés stadium was designed in two phases to allow the club to continue playing at home. The concrete porticos, composite ribs, metal roof, iconic façade, and extension of the roof using a lightweight cable structure were highlighted as elements that were perfectly integrated into the original design.
The subsequent debate provided an opportunity to reflect on the future of stadiums, including their evolution into multifunctional spaces and their impact on the urban fabric.
