Gangneung Building, Gangwon-do, South Korea Skating Arena, Design News

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex

South Korean Sports Building Development design by Samoo Architects & Engineers

27 Mar 2013

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan

Location: Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea

Architect: Samoo Architects & Engineers, Seoul, Korea South

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan
picture from Samoo Architects & Engineers

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan

Designed with the concept of ‘Ice Scape’, the speed skate arena would project the natural beauty of Kangneung through the glass curtain wall of the building facades. It also represents the projection of enthusiasm during sport events which would harmonize with nature to symbolize the spirits of winter Olympics.

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan
picture from Samoo Architects & Engineers

Located on a 440,000㎡ site that was once used for garbage disposal, the site is now covered with abundance of pine trees. The main concept of the masterplan was to utilize nature, arena, and the plaza as ‘three layers’ to produce a layout that would communicate and harmonize with the surrounding environment. The masterplan would link the arena with the various sports facilities such as figure/short-track skating arena, ice-hockey arena, and a park that will be located north of the site.

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea
pictures from Samoo Architects & Engineers

The arena is also designed for functional efficiency and convenience. The design focused on fulfilling the requirements of the international speed skating association’s specification and is equipped with state-of-the-art digital measurement equipment. The plan also guarantees optimized viewing angles for all visitors while providing convenient access routes and facilities for the VIP and handicapped. Special consideration was given to the compact zoning and efficient circulation routes of the media, athletes, and staffs to minimize crossovers.

The façade of the arena utilized rhythmical segmented vertical elements that express the velocity felts in speed skating. The façade’s vertical portion flows continuously into the roof structure to form a new city-scape within the site.

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea
pictures from Samoo Architects & Engineers

Kangneung Speed Skating Arena & Sports Complex Masterplan South Korea images / information from Samoo Architects & Engineers

Samoo Architects & Engineers

Gangneung is a city in Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 229,869. Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of Gangwon Province.

Location: Gangneung, Korea, eastern Asia

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The Presidential Archives in multi-functional Administrative City
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Another Speed Skating Arena on e-architect:

Max Aicher Arena, Inzell, Germany
Behnisch Architekten / Pohl Architekten
Max Aicher Arena
photo : M. Hansen / Archimage Architectural Photography
Max Aicher Arena Inzell

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image courtesy of architects office
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