Ice Stadium Schierker Feuerstein-Arena

In Schierke, a district of Wernigerode at the foot of the Harz Mountains, Graft was commissioned to renovate a listed natural ice rink. Graft proposed a dramatic roof structure anchored at just two points, which provides protection from rain, snow and sunlight but also frames the view of the mountains and sky beyond—its characteristic poise and elegance is indeed a response to the surrounding landscape. Developed in collaboration with Schlaich Bergermann Partner, the steel ring structure is spanned by a steel rope net covered with PTFE membrane totaling 2.400 m2. With its transformation into a new, multifunctional arena, this former historic site has been turned into a year-round tourist attraction. In winter, it serves as a sheltered artificial ice rink, while in summer it is used as a venue for concerts and theatre productions or sports and health events. Two new buildings to the east and west of the stadium host restaurant and cafe facilities along
with other functions. By simultaneously acting as the footing blocks of the roof, these buildings also form part of the structure’s overall composition. Embedded within the topography of the site, they are perceived as an integral part of the surroundings.