The Grand Stade Hassan II, set to be the world’s largest football stadium with a seating capacity of 115,000, is currently under construction in Casablanca, Morocco. The design, revealed by Paris-based architecture firm Oualalou + Choi in collaboration with global sports design leaders Populous, takes inspiration from Morocco’s cultural heritage.
Drawing from the traditional Moroccan event Moussem, which gathers around 30 nomadic tribes from the Sahara each May for commerce, competitions, and performances, the stadium’s design evokes this spirit of unity and celebration. Central to the design is a monumental ring structure, topped by a grand tent-like roof made from a translucent aluminum grid. This tent-like form covers the stadium, blending seamlessly with the surrounding forested landscape. Thirty-two stairways support the roof’s geometry, creating monumental gateways, each adorned with lush gardens perched on platforms 28 meters above the ground.
The stadium’s ends are designed to foster a lively and immersive viewing experience, with hospitality spaces, including VIP and VVIP lounges, offering a luxurious match-day atmosphere. One of the stadium’s most distinctive features is its extensive use of greenery, transforming it into a green oasis where spectators can enjoy natural scenery alongside the excitement of the game.
Tarik Oualalou, founding partner of Oualalou + Choi and lead architect for the project, explains, “The Grand Stade Hassan II is deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, with its traditions and contemporary expressions. It is rooted in ancient and primordial figures: the Moussem, the tent, and the garden, as well as the topography and landscapes of Morocco. It’s a generous space, open to the world and respectful to the Nature it protects. The Grand Stade Hassan II de Casablanca is the embodiment of the great tradition of Moroccan hospitality.”
The stadium will meet FIFA competition standards, positioning it as a venue capable of hosting the final of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by cities across Africa, Europe, and South America. It will also serve as the home ground for two local football clubs. With public financing approved in October 2023, groundwork is set to begin on the 1,000,000 square meter site in El Mansouria, Benslimane province, located 38km north of Casablanca.
Project: Grand Stade Hassan II / Location: Casablanca, Morocco / Architect: OUALALOU+CHOI; Populous / Completion: 2028
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