Architecture and design news:
sport & recreation
Dubai firm to build the world’s largest sports mall
by Andrew Manns | 26 Nov 2018
Emirati real estate developer Viva City Developments has announced that it will supervise the creation of a record-breaking sports complex in Dubai. Dubbed "The Sports Society", the 3-storey structure will occupy 3,717 sq m of space and a feature number of leisure attractions, such as an ice-skating rink, trampoline park, martial arts dojo, bowling alley, and cricket simulator, as well as multiple climbing walls and retail shops. Other amenities in
Grimshaw Architects offer first look at the newest Eden Project
by Andrew Manns | 26 Nov 2018
London-based architecture firm Grimshaw have unveiled renderings of Eden Project North (EPN), a marine-centred recreational complex and leisure attraction in Morecambe, UK. Conceptualised for environmental charity Eden Project International, the new destination will take the form of a series of mussel-shaped pavilions on the Morecambe seafront. EPN will also feature a number of amenities and facilities intended to enhance well-being, including lidos, performance halls, gardens, and observatories. The development is
Miami says 'yes' to David Beckham’s Freedom Park and Soccer Village
by Andrew Manns | 21 Nov 2018
The City of Miami has thrown its support behind Freedom Park and Soccer Village, David Beckham’s long-awaited stadium and training facility. The proposed complex, which has been a subject of media speculation since it was first announced in 2013, will be the home of Beckham’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Internacional Club de Fútbol Miami. Designed by Miami-based architecture firm Arquitectonica, the development will include a 25,000-seat stadium and a
Construction begins on Miami’s Underline linear park
by Andrew Manns | 16 Nov 2018
Work has started on the what is expected to become Miami’s next "world-class trail". Designed by landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, the 10-mile (16 km) Underline – Miami’s first integrated transport mobility corridor – will create new public realm beneath the city’s Metrorail guideway. Set to link Miamians to eight Metrorail stations and 250 miles of trails, the park – which has been likened to New York City’s
First look at University of Warwick’s heavily anticipated sports centre
by Andrew Manns | 16 Nov 2018
The University of Warwick has released an in-depth fly-through video of its soon-to-be-completed sports and wellness hub in Coventry, UK. Set to become one of the largest recreational and fitness facilities in Britain, the David Morley-designed complex will span 16,684 sq ft (1,550 sq m) and feature a 12-court sports hall and 230-station gym, as well as pools, indoor climbing walls, fitness suites, studio spaces, and outdoor sports pitches. The
Loughborough University opens doors on innovative Elite Athlete Hotel
by Andrew Manns | 15 Nov 2018
The Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel (EAC) – the first sports-centric venue of its kind in the UK – has opened at Loughborough University. Designed by David Morley Architects and developed in partnership with UK Sport, Sport England, the English Institute of Sport, and Imago Venues, the 44-room, fitness-focused hotel also includes 20 'high-altitude rooms'. These unique chambers simulate the low oxygen atmospheric conditions of transalpine mountains and accelerate the
Populous unveils futuristic esports centre
by Andrew Manns | 06 Nov 2018
International architecture design firm Populous have released conceptual images of its Gaming House of the Future, a multilevel recreational hub for professional esports gamers. Designed to be both a customised home away from home and a training facility, the new two-tower complex is a kind of incubation venue for talent and features a wealth of amenities intended to both sharpen and increase players' video game skills and wellbeing. In the
Real Madrid prepares to begin work on 'best stadium in the world'
by Tom Walker | 05 Nov 2018
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that work on a €400m (US$429.5, £344.7m) redevelopment of its Santiago Bernabéu stadium will "begin soon". Designed by a team of architects – which includes L35, Ribas & Ribas and GMP Architekten – the renovation will increase the venue's capacity by more than 5,000, to around 90,000. There will also be improvements to fan experience, the technology infrastructure and broadcasting facilities, as well
Leisure "gamechanger": Gateshead green lights new waterfront destination
by Andrew Manns | 31 Oct 2018
Gateshead Council is moving forward with plans to expand the iconic Gateshead Quays, a leisure and entertainment-focused development in Tyne and Wear, UK. The £200m (US$255m, €225m) expansion, which is being spearheaded by Ask Real Estate and PATRIZIA UK, will see the riverside locale gain a number of hotels, bars, and restaurants, as well as a 12,500-seat arena and 10,000 sq m conference centre. Set to be designed by HOK
Fiserv Forum praised as first bird-friendly sports arena
by Andrew Manns | 30 Oct 2018
Fiserv Forum, the new home of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks, has been named the world’s first bird-friendly stadium. The 714,000sq ft Populous-designed venue, which opened to the public on 19 October and was shortly thereafter awarded the Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED) Bird Collision Deterrence credit, features glass panels with balanced insulation and reflectivity. These elements greatly improve lighting conditions and
Cox Architecture commissioned to design Sydney’s Moore Park stadium
by Andrew Manns | 15 Oct 2018
Cox Architecture have been selected to design a new stadium at Moore Park in Sydney, Australia. Set to replace the Allianz stadium, which was built in 1988 by the firm’s principal, Philip Cox, the arena is planned to be a 45,000-seat "civic infrastructure" that will provide extensive amenities and services to "multiple specialist and public groups". Cox’s design director, Pete Sullivan said the new building would "provide a superior platform
Arada reveals masterplan for vast Sharjah Central Hub
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Arada has unveiled the final details on its Aljada Central Hub mega-development. The futuristic complex, to be designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, will span a vast 1.9 million sq ft (176,500sq m) and include 732,000 sq ft (68,000sq m) of green space. Highlights of the family-focused development will include a 1,500-seat multiplex, a waterplay area, multiple sports facilities, retailing and an "edutainment" attraction, featuring a virtual reality zone. The development,
C.F. Møller Architects puts final touches on Jutland leisure centre
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Construction on Hjertet (“The Heart” in Danish), a multi-purpose leisure centre in the Jutlandic town of Ikast is now complete. The 3,600sq m (39,000sq ft) building, which has been described as a “melting pot” and a link between Ikast’s International School and the local community, recently opened to the public. Among other things, the venue includes a cafe, shop, gymnasiums, and multiple spaces for meditative and performative activities like yoga
Work starts on MAD Architects’ craterous sports campus
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Construction has commenced on the Quzhou Sports Campus, an ambitious project which is designed to resemble a craterous landscape not unlike the conical puys of France's Massif Central. Helmed by Beijing-based MAD Architects and based in China’s Zhejiang province, the sprawling, 700,000sq m (7.5 million sq ft) complex will function as a kind of mini-city and feature a 30,000-seat stadium, hotels, youth centres, retail shops, museums, a gym, and a
FC Cincinnati reveals concept designs for new arena
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Major League Soccer (MLS) team FC Cincinnati has released the first stage of renderings depicting its soon-to-be-built sports arena. The up to 26,500-person capacity stadium is being designed by Meis Architects, who have been attached to the project since 2017. Among other things, the proposed multi-million-dollar structure will feature Ethylene Tetrafluoro-ethylene (ETFE) foil technology to illuminate the building’s roof facades, as well as expanded seating, club, and suite areas. The
Watersports island proposed for Swan River in Perth
by Andrew Manns | 10 Oct 2018
Australian property company Northstar Developments has unveiled plans to construct a floating island oasis in the shallows of the Swan River in Perth. Designed to be a watersports and general leisure destination, the Swan River Deck–if approved–would be a jellyfish and algae-free zone, comprising multiple naturally heated pools, an outdoor cinema, a sand-bar for sunbathing, a top platform for dining and lounging, and a green-roofed conference hall with rooms inside
Atlanta Hawks State Farm arena nears completion
by Andrew Manns | 05 Oct 2018
Construction is almost complete on the Atlanta Hawks’ highly anticipated State Farm arena. The US$192.5m (€166.7m, £145.6m) renovation – said to be the second largest in the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) history – will see the sports centre gain the league’s first-ever courtside bar. Other innovative amenities intended to enhance fans’ in-game experiences include a four-chair barbershop – strategically built to overlook the basketball court – Top Golf Swing suites,
Populous opens doors on new base in Dubai
by Andrew Manns | 26 Sep 2018
Global architecture and design practice Populous has opened an office in the Dubai World Trade Centre, its first in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region. The move coincides with the company’s additional announcement at the beginning of the week that it would also open an office in Dallas. Ben Vickery, senior principal and Dubai office lead, said: “Establishing an office in the Gulf will enable Populous to be closer
Bates Smart condemns Sydney stadium plans, talks of upcoming "renaissance" in urban renewal
by Andrew Manns | 25 Sep 2018
Philip Vivian, director of the multidisciplinary design firm Bates Smart, has criticised plans by the Australian government to demolish and rebuild Sydney's Allianz football stadium at Moore Park. In November 2017, the government announced it would spend AU$2.7bn (£1.5bn) to demolish and rebuild two of Sydney’s major stadiums. In March 2018, it was decided that Sydney's Allianz would be the only site to be rebuilt. In a statement, Vivian responded
Work begins on Feyenoord's academy building and sports campus
by Tom Walker | 21 Sep 2018
Construction has begun on the new Feyenoord Academy and Sports Club Feyenoord in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Designed by MoederscheimMoonen Architects for Dutch top flight club Feyenoord, the complex will cater for both professional football, as well as house a leisure centre and outdoor sports facilities. It will become the new home of Feyenoord's U23 team, with the main pitch having seating for 1,100 spectators. As well as the football pitch
World's largest indoor ski park coming to Shanghai
by Andrew Manns | 20 Sep 2018
Plans have been announced to build the world's largest indoor ski park, with the record-breaking development coming to Shanghai's Pudong neighbourhood. Conceptualised by Mercurio Design Lab, the Wintastar resort will be run by Dubai's Majid Al Futtaim, which unveiled the Middle East’s first indoor ski slope in 2005. Singapore-based KOP Limited (KOPL) will build the sport's attraction, which will span 227,000sq m (2.4 million sq ft). The park will feature
Everton FC's new stadium to deliver a '£1bn boost to Liverpool'
by Tom Walker | 17 Sep 2018
Colin Chong, Everton Football Club's recently appointed stadium development director, has claimed that the club's new home will have a transformative effect on the entire city of Liverpool. Everton is currently finalising plans for a £500m stadium at the city's Bramley Moore Dock, designed by US architect Dan Meis. "This isn't just a great opportunity for the club," Chong said. "A new, iconic stadium will benefit the entire city region.
Valdemar Coutinho creates brutalist Portuguese sports complex
by Luke Cloherty | 11 Sep 2018
Portuguese architectural practice Valdemar Coutinho Arquitecos have created a dramatic new 7,000sq ft (650sq m) sports complex in the Viana do Castelo in northern Portugal, with a focus on greys, sharp edges and angles. The complex, called Atlantic Pavilion, with its brutalist-style facade, was commissioned by the local council. Entrance doorways are topped by a rectangular structure with two large recessed windows. These have deeply champfered frames, drawing the eye
Welsh council to consider plans for £200m wellness and life science village
by Tom Walker | 11 Sep 2018
Work could soon begin on what has been described as one of the first developments of its kind in the world. The £200m Llanelli Wellness and Life Science Village, planned for the Carmarthenshire coast, is set to include a wellness hotel, sports and wellbeing centre, wellness spa and primary care centre. An outline planning application for the project will be assessed by mid-November, with preparatory works on site at Delta
BIG to design new Oakland ballpark
by Tom Collins | 30 Aug 2018
Oakland Athletics baseball team has commissioned Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), to lead the design process for its new ballpark and surrounding development in California. BIG will work in collaboration on the project with James Corner Field Operations, the landscape architect for the project, and Gensler. The new stadium will replace the Oakland A’s existing 51-year-old Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, which the A’s share with NFL team the Oakland Raiders. The decision
Benthem Crouwel and Powerhouse release concept for 2022 Asian Games inspired by 'Phoenix bloodstones'
by Luke Cloherty | 24 Aug 2018
Buildings whose red facades represent 'phoenix bloodstones' could feature at the athletes' village for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as part of a scheme by Benthem Crouwel Architects and Powerhouse Company. Phoenix bloodstones are a type of precious gemstone local to the region. The village would be built on land recently reclaimed from the sea and has been dubbed ‘Sponge City’, because of a vast rainwater collection and
Spurs announce further stadium delays
by Tom Collins | 21 Aug 2018
New safety concerns have emerged after recent testing at the site of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur’s (Spurs) £1bn new stadium project, which has been designed by architects Populous. The club announced it will be having “urgent meetings” with construction firm Mace, the stadium’s main contractor, and its subcontractors to devise an achievable timetable to rectify the issues. Two test events were scheduled to take place at the new
World’s largest ice skating centre likely for New York
by Luke Cloherty | 17 Aug 2018
Former Deutsche Bank executive Kevin Parker and former New York Rangers player Mark Messier have secured funding for phase one of a $350m (€303.6m, £275m) project in the Bronx, New York, which will be home to the largest ice skating centre in the world. The pair have announced that plans are underway to transform the 750,000sq ft (69,677sq m) Kingsbridge Armory from its previous use as a military centre into
FaulknerBrowns to create 'iconic sports building' for University of Stirling
by Tom Walker | 08 Aug 2018
Stirling Council has approved plans for a £20m (US$25.7m, €22.2m) transformation of the University of Stirling’s sports facilities. FaulknerBrowns Architects have drawn up plans for an iconic new sports building that integrates with the university's existing world-class facilities, which include national tennis and swimming academies. The University of Stirling Sports Centre will include purpose-built studios, a fitness suite, a three-court sports hall, indoor cycling studio, strength and conditioning area, as
HOK to design fan-focused €192m Valencia arena for billionaire Juan Roig
by Tom Walker | 06 Aug 2018
LICAMPA 1617, an enterprise led by Spanish billionaire entrepreneur Juan Roig, has revealed plans to develop a multi-use indoor sports arena in Valencia, Spain. The company is looking to create the region's premier destination for sports, music, arts, and cultural events and has appointed sports architects HOK to design the arena. The main tenant of the arena will be Valencia Basket, a professional basketball team – sponsored by Roig –
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