Ziggo Dome Square

The Ziggo Dome, a concert and pop music venue with a capacity of 17,000 visitors is set to open in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Karres en Brands has been commissioned to design the public space surrounding this venue. Situated at the end of Arena Boulevard, the venue is hidden behind the viaduct that connects the Arena football stadium with the A2 highway. Currently the viaduct and the space underneath it are obstructions for pedestrians, making it difficult for visitors to orientate themselves in the area and find the Ziggo Dome.

By removing all obstacles and lowering the ground level beneath the viaduct, a large bowl shaped public space is formed, connecting the area around Ziggo Dome to Arena Boulevard. This way the Ziggo Dome gets an obvious address on the Arena Boulevard. The square in front of Ziggo Dome functions as an entrance area but also as an evacuation area. The Ziggo Dome hosts 3 events per week and with a hotel, jazz club and offices also situated on the square it will become a very dynamic public space. The square is sometimes empty, sometimes filled with music fans. A slightly raised area in the square encourages activities when the square fills up with people. A graphic dot pattern on the asphalt breaks down the large scale and emptiness of the square. Seen from the surrounding buildings, the pattern offers a surprising appearance with an image of a moon surface.

Karres en Brands designed the lighting of the square in collaboration with Lichtvormgevers. A hovering, glowing ring provides the public lighting. The lighting adjusts to the changing use of the square. Dark with illuminated edges when the square is empty; dynamic lighting before events; a fully lit square in case of a high risk football match in the neighboring stadium.