Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast surrounded by mountains and fjords. Manchester is 1,500 miles away but has more in common with Bergen than it may seem.
"It might sound a bit strange that a bunch of guys from western Norway throw their hat into the ring for a conversation about the future of Old Trafford," said Professor Lars J. T. Pedersen. "But Bergen is a city similar to Manchester because there's proud industrial history, a football team that's the heart of the city and a really vibrant music scene. There is shared identity, so looking at it from over here, there's something we recognise about Manchester. It resonates with us."
Pedersen and Fredrik Barth, CEO of VILL Architecture, spoke to the Manchester Evening News last month to discuss the future of Old Trafford and their sustainable regeneration idea. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has set wheels in motion to decide whether to revamp or rebuild Old Trafford and which architectural firm is given the contract hasn't been settled on.
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That's where VILL Architecture, a Norwegian company, could potentially come into play. Pedersen and Barth spoke about their vision for Old Trafford, the importance of connecting the city's identity and having a 'circular' stadium that can set an example in the industry.
Building a 'circular' Old Trafford does not mean in shape. It means the stadium would be made from upcycled resources - concrete, steel, wood and metals - and there would be minimal waste, so Old Trafford would become eco-friendly and a leader in sustainability. UEFA's circular model is reduce, reuse, recycle and
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