Sweeping rib-like strips of aluminium cloak the facade of SAP Garden, a sports stadium in Munich‘s Olympic Park recently completed by Danish studio 3XN.

Located on the site of the former 1972 Olympic Velodrome, the 62,500-square-metre arena provides a home for ice hockey team EHC Red Bull Munich and basketball team Bayern Munich.

Copenhagen studio 3XN worked with landscape architects Latz + Partner to create a building that would “harmonise” with the rolling green landscape of the original park, partially sinking SAP Garden below ground and topping its main bowl with a green roof.

The SAP Garden arena has reached completion in Munich

“It was about designing a modern arena that fits seamlessly into its historic context yet still brings a new identity to the Olympic Park,” 3XN head of design Jan Ammundsen told Dezeen.

“We have aimed for this with a simple and organic expression that harmonises with both landscape and surrounding sports facilities,” he added.

Above-ground, the main stadium can host up to 10,700 spectators for ice hockey and 11,500 for basketball. It is wrapped by three levels containing VIP spaces, shops, a restaurant and offices that overlook the surrounding park through gaps in the aluminium facade.

It is wrapped in aluminium ribs

Sunken within a series of low, rolling green hills are three additional ice rinks, intended to be used as training spaces by the resident teams and facilities for local schools, clubs and the public.

At the base of the stadium, the aluminium facade rises to frame a curving section of windows and entrances, which guide visitors into a central ring-shaped corridor.

According to 3XN, the distinctive wrap-around facade of aluminium strips is designed to echo the structures of the surrounding park. This includes the iconic Olympic Stadium designed by Frei Otto and Günther Behnisch.

“The light aluminium facade that characterises SAP Garden and all the neighbouring sports facilities is neutral and understated, which lets the green hill and roof of the arena and the lush surroundings stand out,” Ammundsen said.

The aluminium facade rises to frame the entrances

“The facade is in this sense very simple with vertical pilaster strips on the entire circumference,” he continued.

“But because each of these have a unique geometry and bend towards the bottom the building’s expression becomes dynamic.”

The arena is used to host ice hockey

SAP Garden’s interior is dominated by concrete and steel and has a deliberately pared-back design, intended to complement the aluminium facade.

Danish studio 3XN previously designed a similar form wrapped by timber fins for a sporting and cultural arena in Copenhagen and has also designed a headquarters for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Geneva with a sweeping glass facade.

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