Milano Santa Giulia Arena: A New Olympic Landmark for the 2026 Winter Games
David Chipperfield and Arup present a modern reimagining of the amphitheater.
Summary
- Milano Santa Giulia Arena, designed by David Chipperfield with Arup, reimagines the amphitheater for the 2026 Winter Olympics
- Elliptical podium and floating metallic rings create a striking landmark with dynamic day‑night transformations
- Sustainable design with photovoltaic systems ensures long-term urban utility
Rising as a landmark for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Milano Santa Giulia Arena is a modern reimagining of the classic amphitheater, designed by David Chipperfield Architects in collaboration with Arup.
Situated in a revitalized district in southeast Milan, the venue is defined by its massive elliptical footprint and a raised 10,000-square-meter podium. This elevated “piazza” serves as a grand entrance for up to 16,000 spectators, transforming the site from a mere sports stadium into a bustling public hub for concerts, festivals, and community social gatherings.
The arena’s most striking visual feature is a trio of shimmering metallic rings that appear to float independently above the podium. Crafted from aluminum tubes, these tiered bands capture the changing daylight to give the building a sense of lightness and motion.
At night, the structure undergoes a digital transformation, as integrated LED strips turn the rings into a glowing media screen. To soften this industrial aesthetic, the architects integrated a “green hilly landscape” — a lush arrangement of trees and plants that cascades down the grand staircase to ground the monolithic structure in nature.
Designed for long-term urban utility, the interior features a multi-tiered seating arrangement, including premium lounges and sky boxes designed for optimal sightlines. Beyond its role as a world-class Olympic stage, the project is a model for sustainable infrastructure, utilizing rooftop photovoltaic systems to generate its own clean energy. By focusing on resource efficiency and CO2 reduction, Chipperfield’s design ensures the arena will remain a high-performance, eco-conscious cultural destination long after the 2026 Winter Olympics conclude.
