About the design...
Not only will Eco Park lead the way for sustainability in sport, it will be a stunning stadium to behold. It has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, which has created plans for elite sporting venues around the world – from the Aquatics Centre at London 2012 through to the Al Janoub Stadium featuring in the 2022 World Cup.
Why wood?
Eco Park will be the world’s first modern stadium to be built out of wood. Nearly every part of it will be made from sustainably sourced timber, from the roof cantilevers down through its structure and cladding to the floor and seating terraces. Wood is nature’s ideal renewable building material – it locks away carbon and provides structural strength.
Part of the landscape
With its beautifully organic form, Eco Park will blend neatly into the surrounding countryside with the Cotswold Hills forming the perfect natural backdrop. Its transparent roof and sides will allow natural light to flow through, into and around the structure. The organic pitch will be able to grow in natural sunlight, with no stark shadows for fans and players to cope with.
Soak in the atmosphere
When coming up with the design for Eco Park, the architects at Zaha Hadid gave priority to the fan experience. The up-close atmosphere of the New Lawn will be replicated and bettered with front-row seats 5m from the pitch and unrestricted views from every seat in the house. It will be the ultimate spectator bowl and you’ll never have your view blocked by a pillar.
Room to grow
One of the most amazing things about Eco Park is that it is designed to grow with the club. The phase 1 structure will seat 5,000 fans. When Forest Green Rovers expands, phase 2 will see 5,000 further seats added without the need for major construction works. This is a key aspect of the stadium’s long term sustainability credentials.
Wood is nature’s ideal renewable building material - it locks away carbon and provides structural strength.