Kronaus Mitterer Architekten

A Floating Space of Sound
Vienna presents itself to the world above all through its rich cultural life. The wide range of performance venues—particularly within the city’s historic architectural heritage—is now to be expanded by a new large event hall. Large arenas have the potential to further shape the image of a city. Established urban districts are given new roles within the life of the city. Transformations take place.

Located along a major traffic artery, the Südosttangente urban motorway, the Wien Holding Arena will be perceived daily by thousands of people. Through the significance and symbolic character of its design, Vienna emphasizes the importance of the new arena and the upgrading of this newly designated urban district.

An Urban Foyer
The arena is integrated into the life of the city through a sequence of interconnected plazas that make use of the site’s topography. Generous areas for gathering and circulation are linked by broad open staircases and ramps. Above this folded landscape of access routes, the volume of the arena balances with wide cantilevers over the surrounding open spaces. The geometry of the tower forms a precise counterpoint to the hall. Through the incision facing the arena, a dialogue is created with its expansive cantilevers. At this point the plaza condenses and gains a distinctly urban character.

Elegance and Dynamism
The architecture of the arena combines the elegance of a pure concert hall with the strength and dynamism of a sports stadium. The dynamic ground form grows out of the structural system of the hall, while complex processes and functional requirements define essential boundary conditions. Ultimately, the architecture emerges from differentiated spatial experiences with carefully framed views and visual connections. At the entrance areas, the interior opens towards the surrounding spaces with maximum transparency. Above this, the largely closed façade forms a floating metallic volume that gradually dissolves into transparency at the top and transitions into a roof terrace.

Metallic Shimmering Volumes
The façade allows for different atmospheric effects. During the day, the tightly spaced metal tube structure placed in front of the building creates an elevated, elegantly shimmering volume. In the evening, differentiated backlighting of this tubular mesh generates a subtly glowing body. Through glazed slits in the closed climate envelope behind it, views into the circulation areas and foyers are revealed. In this way, the activity of the arena can be experienced even from a distance.