gmp architekten: universiade sports center

‘universiade sports center’ by gmp architekten, shenzen, china image © christian gahl

hamburg-based practice, gmp architekten has completed ‘universiade sports center’ located in shenzen, china. three crystalline buildings are nestled within an undulating landscape interconnected with pathways bordered with lakes. the facilities are purposed to host the 26th summer world university games 2011, the second largest international event next to the summer olympics. positioned at the foot of mount tong gu ling, the complex contains a stadium, multifunctional hall and swimming pool. after the sporting series, the area will be converted into leisure and recreation center for the community.

the varied topography encompasses the buildings which reach a maximum of 150 meters, accessible to the public via ground level and elevated pathways. within the extensive landscape are traditional chinese garden elements representing movement, continuity and stability. streams and native plants surround the crystalline structures simulating the presence of stones.

plaza image © christian gahl

open sports arena image © christian gahl

swimming pool image © christian gahl

(left) corridor (right) atrium images © christian gahl mezzanine image © christian gahl

enclosed sports arena image © christian gahl stadium image © christian gahl buildings illuminated at night image © christian gahl

reflecting in nearby water image © christian gahl entire complex at night image © christian gahl

site plan image © gmp floor plan / level 1 image © gmp

section image © gmp

section image © gmp

section image © gmp

section image © gmp

elevation image © gmp

elevation image © gmp

sketch image © stephan schütz

project info:

competition: 2006 – 1st prize design: meinhard von gerkan and stephan schütz with nicolas pomränke project leader: ralf sieber staff: xu ji, alexander niederhaus, huang cheng, niklas veelken, martin gänsicke, stephanie brendel, marlene törper, andrea moritz, zheng xin, kralyu chobanov, chen zhicong, thomas krämer, lin wei, martin schulte-frohlinden, plamen stamatov, christian dorndorf, lian kian, zhou bin, tobias keyl, li ling, helge lezius, meng xin, kuno von haefen structural concept and design roof: schlaich bergermann und partner – sven plieninger with wei chen technical building: equipment ig tech lighting design: conceptlicht acoustics: acoustic design ahnert facade planning: shen and partner chinese partner practices: sadi (stadium), cnadri (multifunctional hall), ccdi (swimming hall), bly (landscape design) client: bureau of public works of shenzhen municipality seats, stadium: 60,000 seats, multifunctional hall: 18,000 seats, swimming hall: 3,000 construction period: 2007–2011