The stadium is designed as a low, light super-ellipse with a transparent, vibrant façade of pale ceramic louvres that references other buildings in the area. The ground floor showcases stories of records and sporting achievements that have taken place at the stadium site. The building opens itself to its surroundings, connecting various urban spaces, pedestrian paths and parks, while enclosing a unique stadium space where spectators surround the field – a format that creates proximity, intensity and community.
The facility is designed to accommodate approximately 8,200 spectators, with the potential for expansion to accommodate larger events. Its everyday value is equally important: the foyers are used by sports clubs, schools, martial arts, spontaneous sports activities, running tracks, and public spaces that remain active year-round.
"The new stadium, like the old one, is white and has a flowing form. It should be easily recognisable, a sculptural icon in the city, but equally important is creating human-scale spaces when approached up close," says Architect Jonas Elding of Elding Oscarson.
The architectural approach is both climate-friendly and flexible. The structure combines concrete and timber, façade elements are reused from the existing stadium, solar panels are integrated into the roof, and the building is designed to minimise energy use and climate impact, without compromising the experience.
The competition was conducted as a parallel assignment initiated by the City of Malmö in collaboration with Skanska and Atelier 01 architecture. Out of 43 applications, four teams were selected for the final round:
• C.F. Møller Architects with Elding Oscarson and DIFK
• DinellJohansson with bis
• White arkitekter with AKT II and K2S
• Zaha Hadid Architects with Sweco
After thorough evaluation by a jury led by Marie Andersson Centeno from Stadsfastigheter, the C.F. Møller-led team was selected as the winner.
Frederik Leveen, project manager at Skanska, which is responsible for developing the arena on behalf of Malmö City, commented: "The winning team has developed an attractive and comprehensive solution that unites function, form and sustainability. We look forward to further developing the proposal together with the architectural team and the City of Malmö."
Press Release Malmö City
