Herzog & de Meuron’s 42,000-seat football stadium in Bordeaux, France, has been completed – with Zinedine Zidane the guest of honour at its inaugural match.

Delivered on time and on budget, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux has been designed to appear 'light and open', according to the Swiss architects. Grand staircases blur the boundaries between the inside and outside, while 900 white columns guide visitors on their way in and out of the stadium. Herzog & de Meuron said the combination of the two symbolised openness and accessibility.

The stadium design is inspired by the slender pine trees of the nearby Landes Forest. The jungle of white columns on the exterior supports the stadium’s bowl, which ensures maximum flexibility and optimal visibility for fans through the use of specially-tailored design principles.

“Its purity and geometrical clarity inspire a sense of monumentality and gracefulness,” said Herzog & de Meuron in a statement. “The diaphanous volume of the stadium opens up to the surrounding landscape [and] its transparency reveals all the energy and activities that will transform this piece of land into a new and vibrant part of Bordeaux.”

The stadium will host five matches during the Euro 2016 championships, and will be the home ground of Ligue 1 side FC Girondins de Bordeaux. The team beat Montpellier 2-1 in the stadium’s first match on 23 May, with French national team legend and World Cup winner Zidane looking on.