Oval: the ice rink by high-tech Studio Zoppini

It is an artificial forest with software designed for calculating the parametric signed by Milan’s Studio Zoppini for skating arena “Oval” in GangnuengWith which the South Korean city of Pyeongchang is a candidate to host the Winter Olympics 2018.

After receiving two are not the International Olympic Committee following a nomination for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, awarded to the city of Vancouver, and those of 2014, assigned to the Russian city of Sochi, Pyeongchang down again in the field by focusing on the design of Italian study, author of the building Palace Oval Sochi (Russia) as well as the famous Oval-Palasport for speed racing on ice made during the Winter Games of Turin 2006.

To contend for the title of City of the 2018 Winter Olympics are Annecy (France) and Monaco of Bavaria (Germany). The Olympic Committee’s final decision will be announced on 6 July in Durban.

“The aim of this project is to create a public space that meets the following requirements: provide the city of Gangneung a sports high-quality functional and architectural and an ice rink in position to ensure maximum performance during the Winter Olympics ; become a multipurpose building for use after the Olympic Games as a structure capable of hosting both shows and sporting events, become the focus of urban regeneration and social Gangneung Business Park – Studio Zoppini explanatory.

The project concept inspired by the natural environment, characterized by extensive pine forests. The architecture of the building is therefore a tribute to the beautiful landscape and a reminder to the atmosphere of the first oval for speed skating: it was recreated an artificial forest in which athletes, spectators and people in general have the feeling of being enclosed within ‘inside of a forest.

The roof has a spectacular structure with cables in which the elements are compressed steel plates that also act as a lighting device (indirect natural light) and acoustic device. It ‘been left open on the north side from which we obtain the architectural image stronger.

The project also conforms to the general plan in which VIP, Media, athletes etc.. access from the south and north from the audience. Clearly, the long tables during the Olympic event are preferred because they allow for more direct access to the stands in a controlled and safely maintaining the separation between spectators, VIPs, media and athletes. In the post-Olympic mode, the wider walkways allow better access to exhibitions and events.

The south facade is designed as a continuation of the roof so that it can also be used to control the natural light, while the north facade was left transparent to allow views from inside and outside the structure.

Both the courts is the same as the main hall were designed to give users the feeling of being immersed in and surrounded by mountains and forests.

The technical installations and services are concentrated on the east and west sides that are less palatable to the public. In addition, the north side does not have the problem of having to limit the sunlight, which is rather easy to control along the south side when the sun is the highest point. In contrast, the east and west sides because of sunlight usually more problems due to low angle is located in the sun, which can cause problems of glare and reflections, especially if there is ice in front of the windows. “