Copenhagen’s New Wood Clad, Human Scale Royal Arena Opens Early 2017 Copenhagen, DK/ 11 October2016 – 3XN Architects aspires to refine the typology with its new Royal Arena in Copenhagen.
The 35,000m2 multi-use building, owned by Realdania and the Municipality of Copenhagen and operated by Live Nation, will host up to 16,000 people for sporting events and concerts.
Beyond supporting these commercial activities, 3XN designed the arena to be a good neighbor to the largely residential community in the Ørestad neighborhood. Currently under construction, the Royal Arena will open in early 2017 with inaugural concerts by Metallica.
Good Design, Good Neighbor
To achieve this balance, 3XN designed the Royal Arena with two primary elements: a plinth and a ‘bowl.’ The plinth absorbs the movement of spectators through a variety of small plazas, pockets, stairs and gathering areas that they carved from the plinth’s perimeter. These encourage the community to embrace the variety of public spaces and adjacencies that promote activity and liveliness when the building is not in use.
The ‘bowl’ inside operates as an efficient machine. The design prioritizes clear sight lines and wayfinding, excellent service and easy loading in and out to ensure performances take place as seamlessly –and cost effectively – as possible. “We believe that the arena must also benefit the people around the building,” said Kim Herforth Nielsen, Creative Director and Founder of 3XN.
Wooden & Transparent Façade
3XN clad the oval-shaped structure with a semi-transparent glass façade system topped with wooden fins, some up to 35 meters long. Varying the length of the fins around the façade creates a refined, undulating rhythm. In contrast to most arenas whose hard surfaces accentuate their massive scale, these wooden finds soften the Royal Arena’s scale and extend a warm welcome. The glass façade beneath the fins allows views into and out of the facility.
The wavelike movements of the fins lift up slightly above the natural entry points of the Arena, making way finding easy and logical. While the interior is robust and efficient, natural light via transparent windows coupled with warm materials establish a strong connection to the plinth and extend the welcome feeling. Visitors will not feel like they are just inside a ‘music machine,’ but in a building that addresses its surroundings with views out as well as in. Source by 3XN.
- Location: Ørestad Syd, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
- Architects: 3XN
- Project Team: Kim Herforth Nielsen, Jan Ammundsen, Bo Boje Larsen, Peter Feltendal, Audun Opdal, Maria Tkacova, Jack Renteria, Robin Vind Christiansen, Dennis Carlsson, Andreas Herborg, Anja Pedersen, Arendse Emilie Agger, Bodil Nordstrøm, Christian Harald Hommelhoff Brink, Gry Kjær, Ida Schøning Greisen, Jakob Wojcik, Jan Park Sørensen, Jeanette Hansen, Juras Lasovsky, Laila Fyhn Feldthaus, Lene Borre Christensen, Mads Mathias Pedersen, Marie Persson, Mikkel Vintersborg, Pernille Ulvig Sangvin, Pontus Alexandersson, Rasmus Møller, Sang Yeun Lee, Sebastian le Dantec Reinhardt, Simon Hartmann-Petersen, Stine de Bang, Sune Mogensen, Søren Nersting, Tobias Gagner, Torsten Wang, Ulrich Pohl
- Partners: HKS (Arena Specialist)
- Engineer: Arup and ME Engineers
- Landscape Architect: Planit-IE
- Client: Arena CPHX P/S
- Gross Floor Area: 35,000 m2 (capacity: 15,000, seating: 12,500)
- Year: 2016
- Photographs: Adam Mørk, Courtesy of 3XN