The Bernabeu: Back to the future — How Real Madrid’s new stadium is set to look.A pedestrian circuit on the ground level of the stadium will give a pictorial and factual history of Real Madrid.State-of-the-art technology will allow the stadium’s exterior to replay the greatest moments in the illustrious history of the 13-time European champions.German architect Volkwin Marg says one of the greatest challenges is to build such a stadium and complex within tight urban confines.The metallic structure will encase a retail area, in addition to restaurants, a hotel, a club museum, and of course the stadium itself.Architectural firm Gerkan, Marg and Partners says the metallic skin will allow a changing perception of the arena by pedestrians ‘depending on their position and movement.’On 27 October 1944, legendary Real figure Santiago Bernabeu broke the ground on what is now the stadium that bears his name (reportedly against his wishes). In the 35 years of Bernabeu’s presidency prior to his death in 1978, Real won 16 La Liga titles and 6 European Cups.The Spanish football team bear their manager, Jose Villalonga, aloft to celebrate their victory in the 1964 European Nations Cup, when they beat the Soviet Union 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.The Santiago Bernabeu Cup was named in 1979 after the Madrid president following his death.Pictured during the 1980s, the Santiago Bernabeu stadium reached a peak capacity of just over 120,000 in the 1950s — although its record attendance, in 1956, was 129,690 for a European Cup semifinal against AC Milan.Formidable security was in place ahead of the 1982 World Cup final at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.The match was won by Italy, which beat West Germany 3-1 in the only World Cup final the Bernabeu has ever hosted.The Bernabeu has hosted four European Cup/Champions League finals. The most recent occasion was in 2010, when Diego Milito’s brace helped Italians Inter defeat Bayern Munich 2-0.Inter fans ahead of the final.The view from the inside.How the Bernabeu looks today……and how it will look in the future, with its retractable roof closed.
