Munich, Germany
Populous with Freising-based developer SWMUNICH Real Estate have been selected by Munich’s City Council to design a new multi-use event arena in Munich that would be the first climate-neutral event site in the country.
The venue will function as a multifunctional concert and congress center stadium and accommodate up to 20,000 people.
Populous is inspired by Bavarian heritage and character and wrap the venue with a three-dimensional structural skin referencing “the lozenge shape used in the Bavarian state flag.”
“This instantly and clearly associates the arena with the south of Germany and creates a high recognition factor,” states the press release by Populous.
Highly experienced and one of the world’s leading sports stadium architecture practices, Populous is selected in an architecture competition for which the jury was chaired by Professor Markus Allmann.
“The arena’s structure means that even from a distance, visitors can see inside the arena and get a taste of the entertainment that awaits them.”
The venue aims to provide incomparable concert and live experiences.
Inside, the venue’s seating will be designed in a horseshoe shape (270 degrees), entirely bringing the focus on the multifunctional stage.
The design will integrate “the combination of steeply raked seating, state-of-the-art technology and the expertise of acoustic specialists” who have worked on opera houses and symphony halls, according to the studio, and this will create world-class experiences at concerts and live events.
The new arena intends to become a new cultural landmark in the region and boost tourism and the local economy.
“Our design aims to create a unique destination – compact, efficient, and visually stunning,” says Sin-Jae Yoo, Associate Principal at Populous.
“It will be an instantly recognizable venue, reflecting the character and culture of the area and offering an unparalleled visitor experience. The arena will create a new landmark for Munich,” Sin-Jae Yoo continues.
The new event arena will be a first of its kind for Germany and will be built based on climate-neutral principles thanks to lifecycle-based planning, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint during construction and climate-positive management during its operational phase.
“The design for MUCcc Arena places people at its heart, delivering a unique and immersive visitor experience, as well as showcasing the very latest in sustainable design methods,” states Declan Sharkey, Lead Architect for the project and Senior Principal at Populous.
“The project will create a new cultural centre for Munich and the wider Bavarian region to rival the best live entertainment venues in the world,” adds Sharkey.
Project: MUCcc Arena
Architects: Populous
Lead Architect: Declan Sharkey
Developer: SWMUNICH Real Estate GmbH
Client: City of Munich
Photographs: Populous
