Copenhagen Arena combines two key ambitions: to create an attractive and flexible multi-purpose arena that can attract spectators from near and far, while ensuring that the building's presence will add value and an urban feel to the surrounding neighborhood.
Architecturally, the Arena is divided into a plinth and a top. The top has a semi-transparent facade, where terracotta fins in a warm golden color, waves on the building in a circular motion, which adds a playful, light, warm and elegant expression to the building.
The Arena is designed to optimize guest experience. Its interior can be adapted to any number of spectators and events ranging from concerts to sporting, and the glass between the terracotta fins makes the building open and accessible, and provides the foyer and bar areas with large amounts of natural daylight and a great view to the outside.
Central to the building are a number of features that catalyze local activity - features normally associated with cultural houses, not stadiums. The wave-like semi-transparent facade that seemingly ‘dances’ above the surrounding podium, allows people on the outside to enjoy glimpses of the activities within. The organic shapes of the plinth which lift up above the entry points not only makes way-finding easy, but increases relatability by breaking with traditional ‘box’-like typologies, and creating a number of spaces and niches, which can be used for recreational purposes and allows restaurants on the ground floor to flow directly onto the public squares.
The podium links to the adjoining neighborhood through a variety of small plazas and pockets, which are carved from the podium’s perimeter. These can host markets or exhibitions as well as encourage the community to embrace the staircase and adjacencies. In this way, the Arena promotes activity and liveliness all year around.
Credits:
- Arup
- Planit-ie
- ME engineers
- HKS Architects