Kaunas entertainment and sports arena Žalgiris Arena

About object:

It is difficult to describe the building of the arena in a few words. Firstly, because this object is full of meanings and symbols. No wonder, especially knowing that its main architect – Eugenijus Miliūnas – is a true apologist of post-modernism in Lithuania.
Thus I will discuss the arena’s connections with the context, because the latter is quite complex. The location is unique – an island in Nemunas river, very close to Kaunas new town with industrial areas of Aleksotas and green slopes behind them on the other side. The third source of inspiration for industrial aesthetics, directly related to the arena, is the parking of Akropolis shopping centre, built in an expressive technical style.
In essence, the arena remained as a mediator, which harmonises the context. The city needed a new building for sports and events, which would become the city’s second symbol. The arena had to be visible, memorable and at the same time fit among the local buildings without overburdening the beauty of the nature. The decision to visually split the functionally large volume of the building by constructing 9 “screens” instead of the usual four façades, served here well.
The authors developed a rough diamond with a surface of rusted steel, in places glistening with inclusions of glass or stainless steel. The tribute to the industrial district was paid as well: the façades facing Aleksotas were built of groove rabbets, usually used for building embankments.
The high-tech topic continues in the interior as well, where various technical processes, motors, ventilation systems, automatics and sensors are open. According to the author, there are no additional details – everything in the building is needed and is used to create aesthetics.

A. Stelbiene