David Chipperfield to Design Santa Giulia's New Arena in Milan.

Italian architecture and engineering firm ARUP, in collaboration with David Chipperfield Architects, has begun work on a new Arena in Santa Giulia, southeast Milan, for CTS Eventim. The arena is set to cater to sports and cultural events, with a capacity of up to 16,000 spectators. It is scheduled to open in 2025, in time for the Winter Olympic Games scheduled for early 2026. Outside of event hours, the ample outdoor areas will provide an opportunity for social interaction for people from the neighbourhood and the wider city. 

The new arena is the focal point of the Milan Santa Giulia urban district, which is currently under redevelopment. Located just a few kilometres from the city centre, the area is connected to the high-speed train network and motorway. The new district, designed by Foster + Partners, encompasses residential buildings, structures for education, commerce and leisure, and an extensive park. 

The arena is positioned in the southernmost part of the rectangular site. This strategic location creates a spacious piazza of over 10,000 square metres in the northern section of the site, which can also be used as an outdoor event venue. The building's elliptical form is inspired by the amphitheatre archetype, reinterpreted with modern tectonics and materials. The arena is slightly rotated from the north-south axis, welcoming arriving guests from the west. It is supported by a raised podium that occupies almost the entire site and opens up to visitors via a wide flight of steps and an entrance cut into the podium at street level. 

The arena is designed as three rings of varying heights, which appear to float on top of each other. The metallic materiality is characterised by the shimmering aluminium tubes during the day and the LED strips of the large-scale media integration that lights up at night. The rings are connected by light, transparent glass bands in the spaces in between, as well as with the floor. Towards the piazza, the rings project irregularly, giving the building its dynamic form. The podium and arena's hard materiality are balanced by organically designed green spaces with trees that extend down the staircase, reminiscent of a green hilly landscape. 

The arena's interior features two tiers above the parterre level, as well as a level with lounges and sky boxes. All seats are accessible via spacious lobbies at all levels, as are catering and service facilities. The necessary car parking spaces are located within the podium and a multi-storey car park evolves from the podium, closing off the site to the north. To reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions, the sustainability concept includes photovoltaic systems on the roof, whose energy generated on-site largely covers the needs of the energy-efficient building. 

The arena's location in the Santa Giulia district provides a new focal point for residents and visitors, with an opportunity for social interaction and cultural experiences beyond sports events. The area's excellent transport links and connectivity to the city centre make it a prime location for the arena, as well as the wider district's redevelopment, which will enhance Milan's already thriving urban environment. 

The collaboration between ARUP and David Chipperfield Architects ensures a building that not only meets the technical and functional requirements of a modern arena but also adds a new dynamic to the city's architectural landscape.

 

Press Release_ Courtesy of © David Chipperfield

Visualisation © Onirism Studio