In 2016, Zaha Hadid revealed her winning design plans for the world’s first sustainable football stadium set to be built in Gloucestershire, England. The stadium will be constructed primarily out of sustainably sourced wood, and will be the focal point of the developing Eco Park. In contrast to existing stadiums, Forest Green Rovers will have its seating platforms and floors made out of timber, whereas these elements are normally made from steel and concrete. By utilizing timber for such a large portion of the build, the stadium is expecting to become carbon neutral or even carbon negative solely from its building materials. Wood, is not only naturally occurring and recyclable but it is also has the lowest amount of embodied carbon in any building material. It is easy to see why this stadium will have the lowest carbon-footprint by just looking at the material difference. 

This sustainable stadium also has a breath taking design, complete with Hadid’s signature curvaceous exterior. The stadium is roofed with a transparent material that will benefit the stadium by allowing turf growth but also preserves the surrounding landscape by softening and blending the structure.