The Geoarena – climbing and football in one

In Lichtenberg, the district the most people are moving to in Berlin, a playground has been created in cooperation with the landscape architecture firm Bobsien on behalf of the WGLi (Wohnungsgenossenschaft Lichtenberg eG.), which is also a football pitch.

Originally, a playground was to be built on the site where a classic football pitch already existed. Even though this was very popular with the kids in the neighbourhood, it was also used as a kind of compensation for the lack of play equipment. The children climbed the fence bordering the football pitch.

The size of the existing project area was not sufficient to install new playground equipment in addition to the existing football pitch. The solution was to opt for a playground that combines football and safe climbing in one area: the Geoarena.

The Geoarena is a unique playground in the form of a dome with a football pitch inside. Football enthusiasts get their money's worth here. At the same time the Geoarena can be climbed from the outside.

The Geoarena is a 4.30 metre high dome in a geodesic form, made transparent by mesh elements. The Frameworx system of Berliner Seilfabrik, consisting of steel tubes and connecting balls, serves as the basis for the net elements.

An additional special feature in the upper part of the dome is an intermediate ceiling in the form of a planar net. Likely the most popular places to watch the football match at close range and also an additional play function in the climbing frame.

The colour scheme of the Geoarena is adapted to the surroundings. While the blue balls match the blue of the sky, the green steel pipes pick up on the vegetation of the surrounding bushes, shrub and meadows. The football goals are marked by two opposite orange surfaces.