zurich ice hockey arena by caruso st john is 'somewhere between a monument and a tent'

caruso st john architects has drawn up plans for an indoor stadium in switzerland that is on track to open in summer 2022. designed for ZSC lions, a professional ice hockey team based in zurich, the complex accommodates an arena for 12,000 spectators as well as a smaller rink to be used for training. over the past years, hallenstadion — the team’s current home — has become a popular entertainment venue. this has made it increasingly difficult for the club to find available dates for games. the new arena will be a dedicated venue for ZSC lions, who hope to begin playing in their new home in 2022.

all images courtesy of ZSC lions / caruso st john architects

in developing the project, caruso st john architects sought to create a venue where fans would feel a direct connection with the players on the ice. ‘the design proposes a building with qualities somewhere between a monument and a tent,’ explains the design team. ‘the clarity of its structure and volume suggest the archaic qualities of a mosque or caravanserai, an emblematic figure that makes its own place in a situation without specific qualities.’

outside, a series of terraces and courtyards has been designed as an extension of the auditorium. these areas serve as occupiable space, which can be used for a variety of programs before, during, and after games. ‘when matches are not scheduled, this terrace could be used for celebrations and trade events, intensifying and diversifying the use of the arena,’ the architects add. once inside, attendees are greeted with a vast interior space where every fan has an optimal view of the rink.

according to the design team, the external appearance of the building refers to monumental classicism as well as having light, textile qualities. ‘the light tone of the cladding will be activated by natural light which will play on the drapery and on the fluting of its modeled surface,’ says caruso st john architects. ‘the cladding stops in a gently scalloped profile at the top of the arcade whose interior is clad in deep purple mosaic tiles.’

project info:

location: zurich, switzerland
architect: caruso st john
client: ZSC lions
dates: 2012–2020
status: competition, first prize