Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, designed by Populous and Scott Tallon Walker Architects, has scooped the British Expertise International Awards in the category of ‘Sport, Leisure and Tourism’.

The Aviva Stadium – previously called the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road – was designed to be empathetic to the surrounding neighbourhood, making it the first truly site responsive stadium of its kind in the world. The site, in the residential district of Dublin 4, is also the historic home of international rugby and football in Ireland where the first game of international rugby was played in 1876.

Located in the centre of the city, the 50,000-seat stadium features a unique roof that slopes down dramatically at the north end, offering views across the city. The roof was designed to avoid blocking sun on the surrounding houses. The design also provides a horseshoe-shaped effect, which is a common stadium design in America.

The retractable roof on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in UK, designed by global design practice Populous, was highly commended in the innovation category at the award function.

Polycarbonate louvers are used to clad the continuous curvilinear façade of the stadium. Reflecting the colour of the sky and light conditions, the façade is ever changing and gives a shimmering transparent shingles effect to the stadium. The form, mass, materials and aspects of the stadium are defined by the site and its surroundings. The undulating transparent form offers a soft appearance to the overall structure.

The result of a joint partnership between Populous and Scott Tallon Walker Architects, The Aviva Stadium, with its shimmering form of transparent ‘shingles,‘ is a strong symbol for modern Ireland and provides an international arena worthy to host a future of sporting excellence.

The British Expertise International Awards recognise excellence in design, planning, management and construction of overseas projects and support the continued outstanding success of UK professional services throughout the world.

This year’s Annual Awards Dinner was held on 11 November 2010, at The Institute of Directors, Pall Mall in London.