The city of Liverpool’s waterfront is known the world over, with it’s stunning architecture and instantly recognisable landmarks dominating the skyline.
The Three Graces in particular have an association with the city perhaps like no other group of buildings, but a just a few miles down the road, a Fourth Grace is emerging from the northern docklands.
Everton’s new stadium is really beginning to take shape on the banks of the Mersey, and architect Dan Meis recalls how the embryonic concept for the design began life as a doodle on a napkin.
The American architect said, “There were some ideas in there which I think were interesting to the board but the chairman in particular reacted to one sketch that was about the idea of the wave and the roll of the water over the dock and that idea was a very rough little sketch on a napkin that then got developed into what we see.”
While looking to create the intimate yet imposing infrastructure of Goodison Park, with steep stands situated near to the pitch, Meis’ attention was equally as focused on designing a stadium with instant recognisability, drawing parallels with some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
“People often use the word ‘iconic’, and I explain to clients, for me iconic is that I can draw two or three lines and you know what it is – this is the Eiffel Tower, or this is the Sydney Opera House – with Everton I can do that, you draw the box and the wave, and you recognise it.
Trying to keep that sketch very simple from the beginning allows engineers to layer in the complexity.”
The £500 million under-construction stadium is scheduled for completion ahead of the 2024/25 season, and it is estimated to generate a £1.3 billion boost to the local economy.