Masterplan Architects Selected

MCC's vision to improve Lord's took another step forward as the Club announced that Herzog & de Meuron have been selected as Masterplan architects.

World renowned Pritzker Prize winning architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron's work includes: the Tate Modern; Laban Dance Centre in London; and the Allianz Arena, home to Bayern Munich FC.

Formed in 1978 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the Basel based practice's most high profile commission is the Beijing National Stadium or 'The Birds Nest', the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games - which was formally unveiled earlier this year and will host the opening ceremony on 8 August.

Herzog & de Meuron won a tightly contested selection process with BDP, David Chipperfield Architects, Dixon Jones, and Hopkins Architects.

• Shortlisted Masterplan Architects

They presented to a specially appointed selection panel chaired by MCC member, Sir John Egan, alongside David Batts, Professor Ricky Burdett, Robert Griffiths QC, Blake Gorst, Charles Rifkind and Sir Nicholas Serota.

• Masterplan Selection Panel

The panel was assisted by The Architecture Foundation, which managed the process.

Exciting expertise

Sir John Egan said: "We are very pleased with the appointment of Herzog & de Meuron as we seek to ensure that Lord’s continues to be the international 'Home of Cricket' in the 21st Century.

"This was a tough decision - all five practices presented to the highest standards. However Herzog & de Meuron stood out for us with a combination of masterplanning expertise, sports credentials and exciting stand design concepts."

Herzog & de Meuron's Harry Gugger added: "We are absolutely delighted to have been appointed. It is a fabulous project and we are completely thrilled to be a part of it.

"We relish the challenge of combining the best aspects of Lord's with new ideas to create the future for 'The Home of Cricket'.”

Key milestone

Batts: 'Just the beginning' MCC's Masterplan Project Director, David Batts, said: "This is a significant day for Lord's but is just the beginning.

"We hope to work with some of the short-listed practices on specific projects within the Ground as we take forward the improvements to Lord's over the years to come.

"Lord's has a reputation for innovative architecture and using different architects and we very much intend for this to continue."

MCC Secretary and Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, added: "The selection of Herzog & de Meuron is another key milestone as we seek to deliver significant and long-term improvements at Lord's.

"We will now start work with them to develop detailed plans for the ground."

Next steps

The next stage of the process will be for Herzog & de Meuron to incorporate what they have learnt through the selection process with a further detailed briefing on the cricketing and logistical requirements of Lord's alongside the planning policies of Westminster City Council. This will take much of the summer.