Culture

Bergen City Arena

Project information

  1. Location Bergen‚ Norway
  2. Area22.100 m²

Project details

  1. Year2023
  2. StatusCompetition proposal
  3. Partners Populous
    Bjørbekk & Lindheim
    Norconsult
  4. Client Nygårdstangen Utvikling
  5. Enquiries Thomas Lindgård Fagernes
  6. Scope Masterplanning
    Residential design
    Hospitality
    New Build
    Simulation (SIM)
    Culture buildings

Our proposal for a new city arena in the Nygårdstangen city district of Bergen is part of a transformation to the area into a vibrant and sustainable urban environment with a focus on public space and a sense of community.

This 2-phase competition was an international collaboration between Nordic, Populous, Bjøbekk & Lindheim and Norconsult.

In the first phase, we designed a 22.100 m² multifunctional city arena for international sports events and concerts with seating for 8,000 and standing room for 12,000, and a conference hotel. The arena was designed to be welcoming and engaging all year round, with a primary focus on flexibility for the best experiences for a wide range of sports events and concerts. We strategically positioned lounges within the arena to maximize commercial opportunities and offer varied options for visitors.

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The building features a cascading series of green outdoor terraces that can be used for various purposes, combined with transparent facades for a visual connection to the surrounding urban area. The arena’s rooftop, which we named "the plateau," is designed as a park, accessible from the hotel's skybar, with outdoor seating, walking paths and the city’s most spectacular views!

The hotel’s compact volume comprises 342 rooms, conference facilities, restaurants and operational areas. There are multiple internal and external connections between the arena and hotel for generous urban spaces and maximum flexibility of the facility.

Sustainability features are woven into the design throughout both phases, including our choice of environmentally friendly materials, the limited need for excavation and a thorough analysis of microclimatic factors such as sunlight, wind, and noise.

In the second phase of the competition, we developed a masterplan with various public spaces, 800 residential units, commercial areas, a public transport terminal and infrastructure solutions optimized for bicycles, pedestrians and public transportation while reducing the capacity for parking and restricting car access in the new public domains. The area, which has been dominated by road infrastructure and traffic, is envisioned as an extension of the city center with a series of new plazas and attractive outdoor spaces for year-round activities.