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Arsenal Fans Finding Lush Living in Old Stadium

Nov 6, 2009, 9:20 PM UTC

When hearing of people living inside a stadium, the immediate association is that of an emergency shelter, like the Superdome was following the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005.â†µ

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â†µâ†µAnd that would probably still be the case for stadiums that are in use. Others would simply be demolished, but in the case of Arsenal’s historic stadium in Highbury, it was converted into luxury housing. In all, the old complex holds 725 apartments, each priced between 250,000 to 1.5 million pounds.â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥The Highbury Square complex, estimated to have cost 150 million, still bears many of the telltale signs of its former guise. The stands were hollowed out, rather than knocked down, and flats built inside the metal shells. Original Art Deco features, most notably the East Stand’s red-and-white Arsenal insignia, have been retained. And where once there was a pitch, there now stands a garden, replete with fountains and colored lighting, designed by landscaper Christopher Bradley-Hole. Architects Allies and Morrison have been nominated for a clutch of awards for the site.â†µâ†µâ†µArsenal played in Highbury for 93 years until they relocated to nearby Emirates Stadium in 2006. While the avid fans who have moved into the former sports venue rave about the experience they’ve gotten to live out -- one said he didn’t sleep for a week after moving in -- the economy’s crawl has left the occupancy level at 70 percent since the lofts first became available last year.â†µ

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â†µAnd though the Highbury project is unique among closed venues, other soccer stadia in England have incorporated housing into existing complexes. Leyton Orient Football Club in London developed its Brisbane Road stadium with blocks of condos on the corners of the pitch. Stateside, those plans were floated for redeveloping Tiger Stadium in Detroit, but they were nixed. â†µ

â†µâ†µIt’s certainly an approach that could be taken with abandoned urban sports venues as they move out of operation. Which is another reason why sticking stadia out in the outer reaches of the suburbs leaves them likely to fall into hulking disuse long after the team has moved on.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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