Chybik + Kristof Architects & Urban Designers has been selected to construct a new multi-purpose arena in the Czech city of Jihlava.
Construction work on the 5,600-seat arena is due to begin in 2021 ahead of a planned opening in 2023. The arena will be constructed on the site of Jihlava’s existing ice hockey stadium, which was built in 1956.
As well as hosting ice hockey games, the arena will stage cultural events and music gigs. The project will incorporate a four-building multi-function centre, with an adaptable ice rink, rooftop running track, gym, sports academy, hospitality establishments and shops to form part of the complex.
Chybik + Kristof’s design for the arena will revisit the existing structure of the building. The arena will be located on the border of Jihlava’s historical centre and it is hoped the project will breathe new life into an area of the city which has been neglected. The facility will complement the nearby park and university.
Two of the four buildings that will make up the complex already exist. The four buildings will be connected through open-air walkways and green spaces. The existing rectangular stadium will undergo full reconstruction, with the sports academy to also be maintained as a key element of the site.
A hospitality building will be built next to the arena, giving guests a full view of the complex. The building will incorporate a restaurant, hotel, gym and office spaces and will be dedicated to enhancing the overall event-day experience for guests.
Founding architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof said: “We envisioned the Jihlava Multipurpose Arena as a deeply versatile complex, whose various functions are reflected at once in the technical structure, the landscaping and the aesthetics of the buildings.
“In integrating multiple purposes, we took significant consideration of their various audiences, thereby seeking to reflect the city’s diverse social and generational communities and to encourage their interactions. More than a centre for sports and events, the arena is a social campus for the city – used by the people, thereby designed for the people.”
Images: Chybik + Kristof Architects & Urban Designers
