Golden Goose made its foray into the sports industry with a daring architectural gesture when it opened its first padel stadium in Milan’s CityLife neighborhood. Designed by Fabio Novembre and his studio, the Golden Goose Arena features a striking 17-meter curved cantilever that greets visitors at the entrance, visually echoing the nearby CityWave project by Bjarke Ingels.
SmartCityLife put the arena into service, and Atlante, a business that specializes in quick charging for electric cars that run solely on renewable energy, provided support. The new pavilion, which is situated in an area renowned for its architectural masterpieces by Arata Isozaki, Daniel Libeskind, and Zaha Hadid, brings a vibrant element to Milan’s changing cityscape.
A room designed to accommodate future requirements and flexibility
The arena’s exterior, which is 12 meters high and 2,800 square meters in size, combines semi-transparent polycarbonate with Aluzinc panels to create an air of openness and fluidity. “We know that the city’s needs may change, so we don’t claim to be eternal,” said Fabio Novembre, underscoring the significance of adaptability in urban design. In this situation, being mobile rather than stationary is a major benefit.
The structure’s ability to be disassembled in two days, according to him, emphasizes its function as a responsive and adaptable area within the CityLife architectural park. “One must blend in with lightness—one must dance—in this CityLife setting, which unites the top worldwide architects and has produced this one-of-a-kind architectural park in Europe. All of this seems to me to be a dance of architectural volumes.
Making investments that add value beyond profit
“Many resources have been invested — we’re talking about eight-figure numbers — but what matters is that not everything has to yield a return when you want to do something for the community,” Golden Goose CEO Silvio Campara said bluntly about the company’s reasons for the initiative. “This padel stadium — the first in the world to also have an outdoor area open to everyone — creates an enormous amount of value,” he continued.
Six indoor courts, one Pro court, two outdoor vintage courts, and a panoramic lounge are all part of the venue. It also has a Golden Goose store with a padel-themed capsule athletic line that can be customized using the company’s Co-Creation service. A bar connects directly to the store, and future additions include an outdoor kiosk and dining area.
A center for people, athletics, and design
Golden Goose sees the arena as more than just a place to shop or play sports. It seeks to serve as a hub that combines architecture, athletics, and community involvement. The objective, according to the brand, is to create an environment that “brings out the people, rather than the brand.”