Innovative sustainability solutions are often born from the most evident ideas. It was also the case with Sziget Festival’s Colosseum – a party stage reminiscent of ancient amphitheaters – which for the first time was built in 2012 – and made of pallets. Hello Wood, an internationally renowned architectural firm, was inspired by the pallets lying around the Sziget Festival to create the Colosseum using this unusual material. This way the parts didn’t need to be thrown away or stored after disassembly but could be reused functionally. The experiment created a new category among festival venues: a well-usable but also spectacular architectural work – something completely different from ordinary stage structures or festival tents.

As the popularity of underground electronic music grew, the iconic Colosseum stage has become an increasingly important and unique venue. In 2022 Sziget Festival returned after a two-year Covid hiatus and commissioned Hello Wood to renew the concept and create an even more spectacular and grandiose Colosseum. The new version was completed with a huge gladiator head containing and elevating the DJ booth from the structure. Inside the more than 1,000 square meters indoor arena 3,000+ festivalgoers could dance together to the music of world-famous techno and house DJs such as Ben Klock, Honey Dijon, John Talabot, or Nina Kraviz.

Built of industrial materials, the raw character of the structure matches the mechanical electronic music. The gladiator's helmet was made of trapezoidal steel plates. The pallet towers were stabilized by raw steel sections and ratchet straps, and between the gigantic pillars, an aluminum mesh was placed. The metal mesh played both an aesthetic and a practical role as it was important to not block the view from the outside, so the interior space is inviting, but at the same time to create a cozier atmosphere for those who danced inside by the mesh glistening in the night lighting.

With a focus on sustainability, most of the Colosseum's construction materials were recycled, recyclable, or reusable. Hello Wood, which was also the contractor, rented the 4,400 pallets required for the construction of the building. This way the manufacturer was able to sell them in their original function after the structure was dismantled.

The pillars made of stacked pallets reached a height of 9 meters. The maximum height was determined by the load capacity of the standard pallets thus shaping the design not only with their grid-like structure but also with their load-bearing capacity. Two bars, the stage, the backstage, and a VIP zone were also placed in the circular arc of the pallet pillars. The construction of the structure was a logistical feat, as only three weeks were available for building and a week and a half for disassembly.

This year’s Colosseum competes with the ever more spectacular stage scenes, but at the same time, it creates a unique, incomparable architectural space (unusual for festivals), an excitingly lit, modern-day amphitheater that enhances the musical experience even further.