Projects
- Berlin, Germany
- Completion: 2008
- Capacity: 17,000
The O2 World Arena's location presents an opportunity for re-creating a part of the city lost for years behind the Iron Curtain. Remnants of the Berlin Wall still stand adjacent to the site. The site, which accommodated a railway yard, is the location for one of Berlin's foremost development programs.
In response to the Government's multifaceted planning proposals, HOK Sport proposed a design solution, which introduced landscape as a unifying element to create a cohesive district comprising of commercial, retail and entertainment programs at the focus of which is the new arena. The composition connects a series of public open spaces by acknowledging the pedestrian domain as the focal element of the public realm. The significance of the arena is accentuated by positioning it on the primary focal axis with the main plaza. Undulating grass berms, built-in seats and large video boards create an ambience of playfulness and excitement along the main plaza.