SAP Garden

SAP Garden is a new sports arena to be built on the site of the former Olympic cycling track stadium in Munich Olympic Park owned by Red Bull Stadion München GmbH. The asymmetrical shape and height of the arena are informed by the site’s characteristics, demonstrating respect towards the original vision of an organic architectural landscape. With its green roof and oval structure, SAP Garden naturally and respectfully melts into the landscape and create an organic shape in the landscape rather than a building. The training areas are partially underground and modeled to form a green hill, picking up the topography and enabling a coherent continuation of the pathways and landscape design of the Olympic Park. To improve the local sports infrastructure for schools, amateur clubs and young talents, three additional canopied ice rinks will be built next to the sports arena as training facilities and for recreational use. With match seating of up to 11,500 spectators, SAP Garden will be the future home of German ice hockey champions Munich Red Bulls and German basketball champions FC Bayern Munich. To improve the local sports infrastructure for schools, amateur clubs and young talents, three additional canopied ice rinks will be built next to the sports arena as training facilities and for recreational use. Located in Munich’s Olympic Park, a significant historical setting for modern architecture, the design required an approach based on both humility and audacity. The design team focused on acquiring a deep understanding of the original design and the mind-set behind it. The guiding design principle focuses on sport in the landscape, echoing the motto of the 1972 Olympics, “Olympic Games in the green” and the sense of boldness and optimism reflected on the original vision of Günter Behnisch and Frei Otto. Extending the original purpose of the Olympic Park the project adds new contemporary indoor and outdoor sports facilities for the visitors of the park. With a simple expression and a strong identity, which gets fully integrated within the historical setting, the sports arena will become a distinctive new landmark in Olympic Park, capable of welcoming a wide range of events, embracing their own distinctive visual identities and spatial needs. The success of an arena lies in its capability to create a great atmosphere and a memorable experience for all audiences. SAP Garden is designed to provide the most intense visual experience for all spectators. Robust design solutions allow the venue to transform from an ice hockey rink to a basketball court. With a simple expression and a strong identity, which gets fully integrated within the historical setting, the sports arena will become a distinctive new landmark in Olympic Park, capable of welcoming a wide range of events, embracing their own distinctive visual identities and spatial needs.