Led by Aedas Executive Director Fiona Chen and Founder and Global Principal Designer Keith Griffiths, Aedas joint venture with Southwest Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute of China won the design competition for Zhuhai North Area Water Purification Plant Phase II and Sports Centre in the High-tech Zone.

The high-tech zone is situated in a prominent location, as a focal node to Zhuhai urban development. The design integrates mixed-use amenities including transportation, sports and parks while a water purification plant is located underneath.

Fiona says, ‘The design not only provides comprehensive infrastructural facilities, but also improve the urban environment. Most importantly, to creatively utilise the space of water purification plant to the above-ground spaces, encouraging the growth of the city.’

Masterplan

The masterplan incorporates the needs of the plant and the city, optimising the under- and above- ground space for multi-functionalities.

The project is zoned by the roads, have the office placed on the north, while the sports amenities are placed on the south. By elevating the whole complex to the second floor, the pipes and evacuation routes are fully covered while an elevated car park is designed on the first floor. It creates a spacious and people-centric communal space on the second floor.

Despite the conventional ways of disposing water after purification, the water plant encourages to reuse the used water on public amenities to reduce water wastage and to minimise the operation cost. The water returns to the irrigation system and miscellaneous use within the campus, reducing the water wastage to achieve high environmentally-friendly efficiency.

It is essential to integrate the functions vertically for both underground and aboveground to optimise the land use, and to inject vitality to the design. Having a complicated underground water plant program, the design consists of two structures to achieve the adoptability, flexibility and efficiency. A public corridor connects the stadium and swimming pool in harmony with the surrounding landscape.

Architectural design

‘It is more than a sports amenity – it is designed to provide a public realm to gather the community with urban fabric.’ Keith says.

The main complex consists of a 3,100-seat stadium and 1,500-seat swimming pool, creating a bold architectural form which signifies the energetic spirit and vibrant city atmosphere.

Adopting silver white aluminum panels, the façade glitters under the sun and creates a dynamic form as an urban icon as the fins horizontally expand and span over the long façade. The stairs guide the visitors to the stadium venues, offering an elegant entrance ambience.

A public corridor connects the sports amenities which consist of a stadium and a swimming pool, creating a spacious courtyard through an open layout for a grandeur entrance. The design features an umbrella-shape canopy and a fluid architectural form, providing a multi-layered biophilic public space for socalising. The communication and connectivity are further strengthened by the stairs linking each floor to encourage circulation and collaboration.

The stadium has a capacity of 4,600 people, with fixed 1,600 seats and 1,500 flexible seats, consisting of a basketball court where the competitions can be held. The swimming pool has 1,500 seats, including a 50*21m swimming pool and 25*21m training pool. It is designed to be an entertainment and recreational venue for the city.

The design adopts double-layered grid structure, maximising the spatial use to provide a humane recreational space.

Placed on the north, the two office towers are designed as the service centre and operations management building with a public plaza in between. The first floor of the management building connects itself to the museum, creating a high connectivity between spaces of different venues. The louvered silver façade creates a vibrant architectural form that echoes the stadium. A bus terminal is designed to closely connect with the surroundings, enhancing the vitality and mobility.

‘We create a pioneering mixed-use complex within a purification plant site, integrating the greenery and urban fabric, and redefining a contemporary sustainable public infrastructure model.’ Keith says.