Alba Arena, Székesfehérvár

Architects: Mihály Balázs, Tamás Attila Tarnóczky
Text: Bálint Botzheim
Photos: Mihály Balázs, Balázs Danyi, György Palkó

The Alba Arena in Székesfehérvár, which was inaugurated in April, has not only become the local ice hockey stronghold, but also an icon of the city by now. It can host more than 20 types of sports and can also host cultural events. It has a beautifully curved roof to compensate for its large size, thanks to the innovative spatial design of architects Mihály Balázs and Attila Tamás Tarnóczky, who have lowered the arena from the ground level. At first glance, the roof seems to cover the building like a gentle shroud, extending cantilevered over the boundary wall. The form is finely structured: a square cone, rounded off from a large spherical surface and set on its head, to intersect the geometry of the roof and the overhang. The appropriacy of this formal perfection is also confirmed by the fact that the outward-sloping façade provides particularly advantageous shading effects, significantly reducing the thermal load of the whole ice rink. Glazed facades on all four sides allow for a clear view of the building, and the transparency that continues in the interior allows the atmosphere of the arena to be seen from the outside. From the first floor, the sloping façade is surrounded by curved bands of shield-like components that curve outwards, become denser at the entrances and space out towards the centre of the façade. Thanks to the glazed walls used in many points, the observer remains in visual contact with the outside world throughout most of the building, even when entering the fighting area.

Client: Municipality of Székesfehérvár
Lead architects: Mihály Balázs DLA, Tamás Attila Tarnóczky
Architects: Mónika Bordás, Balázs Falvai DLA, Márton Nagy DLA, Tibor Tánczos, Dávid Török DLA
Design: Gábor Szokolyai
Graphics: Ákos Polgárdi
Structure: Ákos Medek
HVAC: Zoárd Mangel
Electrical engineering: Ferenc Rajkai
Building construction: Sándor Horváth
Environment: Dániel Kontra
Traffic: Ádám Rhorer
Sprinkler: Balázs Szakos
Elevator: Lajos Balogh
Kitchen technology: Ágnes Straub
Accessibility: András Pandula
Fire protection: Bendegúz Csuba
Environment protection: László Weiner
Geotechnology: Balázs Móczár
Sports technology: Zoltán Judik
Acoustics: Róbert Csott
Main contractor: Market Ltd.