The new sports arena, located in Miribilla, a district of Bilbao built upon the old iron mines alongside the historic city centre. Located on the top of a very steep site, with a drop of 46m from one corner to the other in just 200m, the new Sports Arena has a capacity of 8,500 seats. With a dual function, the home of Bilbao Basket, and sport and leisure centre for the local community, the building is split horizontally. The arena perched on tree like stilts, is designed with a facade of permeable steel “leaves”, lacquered in different colour. The vibrant colourful design of the arena won a RIBA Award 2012 (EU Building category) and has been awarded other international awards and acclaim. A highly sustainable and efficient design, to reduce operation costs and energy use, the building reduces the air conditioning requirements by creating a semi exposed corridor around the main arena which acts as a buffer between the internal and external environment.