Shijiazhuang, China
Aiming to create a focal point of CBD’s Central Park, Ma Yangsong and MAD Architects’ Cloud 9 Sports Center stands out for its fluid design and curved silhouette that seamlessly blends with the surrounding landscape, giving the impression that it is a natural extension of the environment.
The Cloud 9 Sports Center is designed to showcase a soft and fluid exterior to fit into its surroundings, mirroring the landscaped park while offering a range of facilities including a gym, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and commercial spaces.
As per the architects, the center’s design is geared towards optimizing both the functionality of its program and its environmental sustainability.
Cooling towers are integrated at strategic positions on the second floor to optimize air circulation and free up ground floor space.
Additionally, a green slop and a second-floor platform are included to act as a buffer between the Sports Center and the city, while an integrated running track connects the venue to the park and the outdoor courts, terraces squares, and observation decks.
The outer skin of the building utilizes ETFE membranes with a metallic coating to create the structure’s distinctive image. The membrane softly reflects the surrounding landscape and helps minimize the impact of the building’s volume and the obstructions of the cooling tower.
The membrane also allows park visitors to peek inside the activities of the center, transforming it into a display of urban life.
A semi-outdoor staircase connects the building to Central Park, allowing people to access the rest bar along the stairs and climb to the third-floor observation deck for panoramic views of the park and surrounding city.
On the top floor, the gym features a transparent curtain wall, while the indoor tennis court is linked to an underground commercial street and subway, with its design allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
Project: Cloud 9 Sports Center
Architects: MAD Architects
Lead Architects: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano
Associate Partner: Kin Li
Design Team: Guo Xuan, Pan Siyi, Miao Fangyi, Lai Hanzhang, Deng Wei, Qiao Xuantong, Wang Fei, Wang Lei, and Li Cunhao
Client: Shijiazhuang Central Business District Development Co., Ltd.
Photographs: Courtesy of Aedas