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Bilbao Arena and Sports Centre in Miribilla

This is a project by ACXT and it is located at Bilbao, Spain. Project's program: Sports centre. There are thirty two images for Bilbao Arena and Sports Centre in Miribilla.

: © Aitor Ortiz

Project details

Project name: Bilbao Arena and Sports Centre in Miribilla
Location: Bilbao, Spain
Program: Sports centre
Area: Built-up Area: 30,800 m2
Year: Completion: 2010
More details: Cost of Construction: 40,000,000 Euros
Client: Azpiegiturak, S.A.U.
Project by: ACXT
Team: Principal Designers: Javier Pérez, Nicolás Espinosa • Design Team: Leyre de Lecea Zabaleta, Ricardo Moutinho Figueiredo, Xabier Aparicio, Roberto Aparicio, Leticia Paschetta, Jose M. Cavallero, Nuno Miguel Lobo
Others: Contractor: UTE Miribilla (OHL, Sobrino y CYCASA)

Project images

Designer's statement

Miribilla. A district of Bilbao built upon old iron mines alongside the historic city centre. A very steep site, with a drop of 46m from one corner to the other in just 200 m, situating the building in the middle of the neighbourhood park.

The solution for the many complex functional and circulation requirements — use of sports centre on match days, use of basketball court by local residents, separate entrances for players, dignitaries and the general public, premises for possible vantage-point restaurant, sports centre with separate entrance but allowing residents access to the arena on non-match days, a car park with access to both areas, etc. — was inspired by the limestone rocks sticking out between the slopes and trees in the park.

We divided the building in two parts: the arena on the upper level (with entrances away from nearby homes to avoid any disturbance from noisy Bilbao Basket followers) and the sports centre on the lower level (closer to housing).

Bilbao Arena is designed like a tree with trunk-like pillars that support the metal structure along the façade featuring a permeable envelope of steel leaves lacquered in different colours that conceal all the centre’s air conditioning units.

The sports centre is designed like a rock with precast, textured concrete panels the same colour as the grey limestone in the area

The façade of Bilbao Arena along the ‘rings’ or circular corridors is permeable in order to comply with low-budget and low-energy constraints. This is achieved by using galvanised steel mesh: the type used for retaining road embankments. This will give the circular corridors an outdoor environment that requires no ventilation or air conditioning, and ensures safe evacuation in the event of fire.