Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

Architect	Populous - Structural Engineer Buro Happold
Date Built	Opened 2010
Location	Site of the former Landsdown Stadium in Dublin
Description
Populous say that their brief for the Aviva Stadium was to: "design a new 50,000 seat stadium – in a space that was smaller than that occupied by the old 23,000 seat/25,000 standing capacity stadium! The site was constrained on all sides: by the existing field, houses with rights to light and views to the north and south and, crucially the railway line running along the boundary, which necessitated developing a methodology of design and construction that would minimize disruption." The result was this amazing, undulating structure that sits in among its residential neighbours. The north end end of the stadium looms up above the nearby houses but the fact that it is swathed in transparent polycarbonate cladding and has reduced seating at that end means that it doesn't cast an undue shadow over its neighbours. Populous says that the stadium, "consists of a continuous curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground. The South, East and West stands have four tiers of seating for spectators. The bottom and top tiers provide the main volume of spectating facilities. The second tier provides facilities for premium ticket holders and the third tier provides facilities for corporate boxes. There are 10,000 seats at premium level and a further 1,300 at box level." The stadium is home to the Irish national football team and the Irish national Rugby Union team but is also an important venue for exhibitions, conferences and major music concerts.