The swimming pool at Jiangshan Sports Center is led by LYCS Architecture for integrated architectural and interior design. The flowing curves of the structure now shimmer in harmony with the glistening waters of Jiangshan Port.
Located in Jiangshan's Hushan Sports Park, the project spans 14,244 square meters and is the city's first Grade B professional swimming pool. Once completed, it will operate with the 4,000-seat sports arena at Hushan Sports Park and the 3,000-seat stadium near Binjiang High School. Together, this "two halls and one field" complex forms a multifunctional sports hub capable of hosting professional events while meeting public needs.
Jiangshan: Between River and Mountain
Jiangshan, a city steeped in history, derives its name from Mount Jianglang and its riverside location. In 931 AD, King Qian Liu of Wuyue renamed Xujian County to Jiangshan County, inspired by the region’s iconic landscapes. Anchored between Hushan Mountain and Jiangshan Port, the design of the sports center draws upon the theme of “river and mountain.” The undulating architecture echoes the surrounding hills, while the fluid lines suggest the flowing river, crafting a dynamic yet culturally resonant sports complex.
Since 2022, the design team formed by LYCS Architecture and ZIAD, in collaboration with consultants such as RoboticsPlus.AI, has been working together to ensure the scientific and rational implementation of the project.
However, the team faced a classic "three-body problem," balancing three interdependent factors:
How to optimize the curves?
How to design the facade units?
How to control construction costs?
This challenge set the stage for a delicate balancing act.
Curve delineation, Infinite loop
The design team restructured the upper façade’s geometry using top, inclined, and vertical surfaces. These surfaces twist dynamically between the two main venues, creating a visual tension with alternating convex and concave sections. By incorporating more straight lines with chamfers, complex three-dimensional curved surfaces were minimized, reducing costs and achieving better harmony with the adjacent arena.
Despite these optimizations, the upper façade still required 2,943 unique metal panels, each with custom dimensions, making it one of the most visually impactful yet cost-intensive elements. Given its importance from an urban perspective, the team and client prioritized this section, ensuring the budget was allocated where it mattered most.
For the lower facade, which is closer to the users and less visible in its entirety, the team simplified the design to one-dimensional inclined planes. This maintained the design integrity while standardizing façade components, significantly lowering costs.
Thousands of creases, scales shining like dots
The continuous façade is composed of individual metal panels. After extensive case studies and iterative comparisons, the team selected a staggered folded plate pattern for its balance of cost efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
Each panel features a single fold, creating a scaly texture that interacts beautifully with changing light.These folds add a layer of visual complexity to the curves, integrating points, lines, and surfaces into the design.
Uniform fold angles were key to achieving coherence across the façade. At the intersections of inclined and horizontal planes, the team maintained the fold angle with precise cuts, ensuring visual continuity.
With its guardrails tilted at over 25%, the aerial corridor adds a subtle sense of speed, linking the upper façade to the lower base with a unified matrix of folds.
Sunlight glinting off these "scales" creates rippling highlights, clothing the swimming pool in a magnificent "Dragon Scales."
Conclusion
With the façade nearing completion, the swimming pool at Jiangshan Sports Center is entering its final stages of construction. This modern sports complex will provide world-class facilities for the residents of Jiangshan and explore an innovative operational model that balances usage between schools, the public, and professional events.The team and the community eagerly anticipate its grand opening, which promises to elevate Jiangshan’s sports industry and cultural vitality.
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