The project originates from the ambition to regenerate the former ice rink area in Auronzo di Cadore, transforming an outdated structure into a new multifunctional sports, recreational, and social hub capable of operating throughout the year. Rather than simply replacing the existing building, the intervention proposes a new vision for a strategic location, reconnecting the urban fabric with the lakeside landscape and the extraordinary natural setting of the Dolomites.
The privileged position along the shores of Lake Santa Caterina represents the main driving force behind the project. The architecture is conceived to enhance the surrounding landscape, opening towards the water and mountains through extensive glazed surfaces that strengthen the visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The new complex becomes a place of connection between the local community and its territory, providing an open, accessible, and recognizable public space.
The building adopts a contemporary architectural language rooted in the Alpine tradition of the Cadore region, reinterpreting local materials, proportions, and relationships with the surrounding context. The reduction of the overall volume compared to the previous structure, together with careful control of heights and alignments, allows the intervention to integrate more harmoniously into the mountain landscape. Natural larch wood recalls local construction traditions and brings warmth to the spaces, while dark metal roofs introduce a contemporary element that dialogues with the colours and textures of the surrounding rocks and forests.
From a functional perspective, the project moves beyond the concept of a seasonal sports facility, creating a flexible and multifunctional complex. At its heart is a large multipurpose arena that preserves the historic vocation of the ice rink during winter, hosting ice sports, training sessions, and competitions. During summer, its adaptable configuration allows the same space to accommodate cultural events, performances, exhibitions, and indoor sports activities, ensuring year-round use.
Alongside the main arena, the complex integrates complementary functions including a wellness and fitness area overlooking the Alpine landscape, multifunctional rooms for social and community activities, athletes’ support spaces, and a refreshment area with a bar and covered terrace facing the lake. Together, these spaces encourage permanence and social interaction, transforming the complex into a meeting point for both residents and visitors.
Environmental sustainability and climate resilience are also central to the project. The outdoor landscape prioritizes soil permeability through draining pavements and surfaces that support the natural water cycle, while native trees and vegetation contribute to restoring the local landscape and strengthening the relationship between architecture and nature. The optimized building envelope, careful management of solar radiation, and use of durable materials suited to the Alpine context further contribute to energy performance and a more sustainable life cycle.
The new Auronzo di Cadore Ice Rink aims to become a contemporary infrastructure where sport, culture, wellbeing, and sustainability come together. A new landmark for the community, designed to enhance the extraordinary landscape of the Dolomites and create a place where architecture and nature coexist in balance.
