Thomas Heatherwick appointed to redesign Riverside Stand

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Fulham Football Club has announced that Heatherwick Studio, led by Thomas Heatherwick CBE RDI, has been appointed to redesign the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage.

The club says its Chairman Shahid Khan has personally commissioned Heatherwick Studio to create "an iconic landmark on the banks of the River Thames".
Planning permission has already been granted for the new stand, which will increase the capacity of Craven Cottage as the club strives to return to
the Premier League. It currently holds only 27,600 spectactors.

The new stand will open up the riverwalk beyond Bishop's Park and the club is also committed to investing in the park itself after using Fielder's Meadow as a storage site during the rebuilding works.

Heatherwick Studio is famous for designing the London 2012 Olympic cauldron, which was lit during the opening ceremony. It also redesigned the red London bus and is currently working on the contoversial Garden Bridge in Central London.

Shahid Khan, who became the owner and chairman of Fulham FC in July 2013, says: " The Riverside Stand project required patience and diligence, and ultimately a designer who understands the history of London, the Thames and, of course, Fulham. Thomas Heatherwick is that designer.

" I have had many meetings with Thomas in the past half-year and while his work speaks for itself, to hear him articulate his vision is something else. Thomas will bring to life what the project, the neighbourhood and the Fulham community deserve."

The project's timescale will be decided once the design is completed.