When it came time for a design for a renovated stadium at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, France, to fly, old Airbus A340 fuselages entered the mix. And now that renovation work has begun on the South Stand at the home of French Ligue 1 club Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, we have a world first where recycled aircraft fuselages form panels to provide sun protection on the main stadium facade.

The white recycled fuselages cover an area of ​​43,000 square feet and offer what the architects consider an “elegant and shimmering facade.”

“The idea for the facade sunshade was originally conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic, when planes were almost completely grounded and airlines were resizing their fleets and flight operations,” said Francois Clement, president of Populous France, the global architectural firm working with local architect Rey- de-Crécy about the project. “Our design concept sought to use decommissioned aircraft, using recycled architecture to deliver the innovative concept at the heart of an environmentally sustainable design for the renewed stadium.”

The aircraft project involves cutting up existing decommissioned Airbus A340 fuselages into panels for the solar shading system, known in France as a “brise soleil”.

The first prototypes of the fuselage sections have been installed on site, and work continues on the new stand as part of the overall renovation of the stadium. “We wanted the renovation of the Stade de la Meinau to be an exemplary project, both ecologically and socially,” said Pia Imbs, president of Eurométropole in Strasbourg, operators of the arena. “Faced with the challenges of climate change, we must develop a circular economy that respects the resources at our disposal and every public project is an opportunity to support and encourage innovation in that area.”

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Imbs calls the reuse of the fuselages a crucial choice for the project, adding “it’s a world first that we’re proud of. It’s the signature of the new face of the stadium.”

The Populous plans to modernize the existing structure and expand capacity from 26,000 to 32,000 will be completed in August 2026. The ongoing project aims to create new space for fans, including the extension and renovation of the south stand, where the fuselage-filled solar shading system is now being installed . The new South Stand will also feature a five-story, glass-fronted atrium with new bars, hospitality lounges and two party decks, open spaces for fans to gather while overlooking the pitch.

Work will later move to the north, east and west stands and the creation of a fan zone – the first in a French stadium – to open to the community during the week.

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