Multi-functionality in Stockholm
In Sweden, C.F. Møller is behind the Friends Arena in Stockholm, which is the national stadium for Sweden's national football team and the home ground of local football team AIK. Friends Arena is designed as a multi-functional arena with capacity for 53,000 football spectators and 75,000 concertgoers. It was the host for the 2017 Europa League final, where Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0, and has hosted concerts with international stars from Celine Dion to Ozzy Osbourne. It's also possible to hold smaller events, as Friends Arena can be divided into sections and still ensure a good view from every seat.

"Friends Arena was designed from the outset to be multifunctional. This can be seen, for example, in the large roof, which can be opened in 15 minutes and quickly change the character of the arena, so that for football matches, for example, it is experienced as a dedicated open air football stadium. This function also makes it easier to keep the pitch in good condition. At the same time, there is a focus on concert seats with good sound and a good view of the stage. The number of concert seats is also optimised to support a good concert economy. Friends Arena's multifunctionality is also seen in an easy access to the stadium for stagehands and how it provides the facilities the world's biggest stars require to stage their spectacular and equipment-heavy stage shows,” says Mårten Leringe, partner and architect at C.F. Møller Architects.

National landmarks
The Globe has become a powerful landmark for Stockholm, with its circular silhouette clearly visible in the streets and from the air. Similarly, Bislett Stadium in Oslo is also a landmark for both the city and Norway. Bislett Stadium is particularly well known for athletics events such as the Bislett Games and the Diamond League, and more than 50 world records have been set at this stadium. It is architecturally distinguished by the way it fits into the city. Spectators can look out to the city and the city can look in on the stadium. The materials and architecture reflect the city's, so it is perfectly integrated with its surroundings.

"It's more important than ever to think of a stadium in terms of its surroundings. This can be in relation to nature and green areas, if the arena is located a little outside the city. In relation to the city-integrated arena, it is important to think of urban life, edge zones and spaces for shops and restaurants in the design, so that the stadium has relevance when there are no matches and concerts. Basically, it's about creating an arena that makes spectators want to stay there before, during and after a match or event and ensuring that the stadium is alive during everyday life outside the big events," says Klaus Toustrup.

A good example of this is found in the centre of Copenhagen, where Denmark's national stadium is located, and which C.F. Møller has expanded and transformed into a modern stadium for concerts and sports events. It is home to the Danish national football team and local football club FCK, and has hosted performances by the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Lady Gaga. The stadium complex also houses offices, cafés, a Michelin three-star restaurant, a private hospital and much more. This ensures a vibrant stadium area which is well used day-to-day between major events.

The sustainable stadium
Daily and varied use makes demands on a sustainable building - both in terms of operation and maintenance and the construction itself.

"At C.F. Møller, we generally focus on creating sustainable buildings, for example we work with wood as a construction material, which is CO2-saving, and we make LCA (Life-cycle Assessment) analyses to minimise the total energy footprint in relation to production and operation. It's also about making the most of a stadium's roof surfaces and collecting rainwater, which can be used to irrigate the pitch, for example, but also ensuring good conditions for daily users, including good daylight conditions. Working with sustainability and well-being is an integral part of our work, and we have developed our own internal programmes and methods that create optimal results and savings in the design phase itself," says Klaus Toustrup.

The design of the arena of the future thus requires experience, good and proven methods in combination with visionary ideas, architectural expertise and the use of the latest technology to create a sustainable arena that solves a number of tasks and at the same time has an aesthetic expression that will last far into the future.

In addition to Parken in Copenhagen, Bislett Stadium in Oslo, and Avicii Arena and Friends Arena in Stockholm, C.F. Møller is also behind Eleda Stadium in Malmö, Sweden, and Randers Stadium in Denmark. The latter two are smaller stadiums for football only and focus on the intense football experience.

Friends Arena
Avicii Arena
Eleda Stadium
Bislett Stadium
Parken