A Peek Into the Sports Complexes of the Future

Although the Olympics wrapped up in China eight years ago, the country is still demanding top-notch athletic centers. That’s why city officials in Shenzhen have commissioned Dutch-based firm MVRDV to design the Xili Sports and Cultural Center. Working in concert with the local firm Zhubo Architectural Design, the two are seeking to “transform the lives of the different generations of people living nearby by offering a more humanistic model for sports and culture.” Bringing together different groups of people is largely important due to the sport centers’ location. Positioned at the very southeast corner of China, Shenzhen is next to Hong Kong and near Macau—two of the most densely populated and diverse parts of the region.

“We wanted to combine a large-scale sports stadium with a social aspect connecting it with the community,” said MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs in a statement. Generally, sports centers do not accommodate many cultural activities, as the space is meant almost exclusively for recreational activities. But with four distinct zones (connected by a massive track and various footpaths) and with a total surface area of 1,130,210 square feet, the new Shenzhen center will host basketball and badminton courts, a multifunctional arena, a swimming pool, as well as designated socializing areas and theaters for various cultural performances.

A peek inside the venue shows the proposed theater.

Set between the Nanshan and Yangtai mountains, the Xili Sports and Cultural Center will also benefit from its stunning scenery. The complex’s design was very much influenced by its surroundings; in fact, because of them, MVRDV implemented an open layout that will be covered with vegetation throughout. If this is what the sports complexes of the future will look like, sign me up.