Hot this week: world's best building, Shigeru Ban interview, Middle East gets air conditioned stadium
This week leisure architecture was celebrated in two high-profile competitions: RIBA’s first International Prize and the Aga Khan Architecture Award. The first is seeking the best building, anywhere in the world, created in the last three years, while the second celebrates projects that exhibit architectural excellence and improve the overall quality of life.
Between them, the two competitions have shortlisted public buildings, housing, schools and hospitals alongside acclaimed leisure buildings including museums, concert halls, sports facilities and hotels – proving the growing impact leisure buildings are having on the public imagination.
CLAD had two big interviews this week, with Pritzker-winning architect Shigeru Ban, who spoke in depth about how he balances his leisure building designs with his humanitarian architecture, and Rachel Haugh, who discussed her practice, SimpsonHaugh and Partners, and their innovative work on phase one of the Battersea Power Station development in London.
Fellow British practice FaulknerBrowns Architects unveiled their planned indoor waterpark project in Coventry, which uses elegant and community-focused design to create a “high octane” and “holistic” type of health and fitness facility inclusive to all.
Inclusivity has also been on the mind of the team at Populous, who this week revealed how they may attract young fans to Tottenham Hotspur’s revamped White Hart Lane by incorporating youth seating areas and creches.
Elsewhere in stadium design, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave the green light to the world’s first fully air-conditioned ground, and a stadium complex designed by Gensler for aspiring MLS franchise Los Angeles FC received council approval.
A number of exciting projects under development in the US advanced this week – including the first public demonstration of Elon Musk’s Hyperloop concept and the announcement that Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) will create designs for this “fifth mode of transport”.
BIG’s design for The Dryline storm barrier and leisure realm in New York also advanced after city mayor Bill de Blasio announced new funding to help the project get off the ground.
In nearby New Jersey, the city of Asbury Park is being brought out of a long-running decline by an all-star team of architects including Chad Oppenheim and Guy Handel.
This week CLAD also reported on a 50m-high sky walk inspired by the flight of a butterfly, a hotel created in a former London courthouse, a colourful revamp of Frank Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton and a star-studded auction to fund a new home for the world's biggest design museum.
For more leisure design and architecture news you can check the CLAD website everyday and follow us on Twitter @CLADglobal.
CLAD week BIG RIBA Dryline Shigeru Ban Asbury Park Populous FaulknerBrownsEurope's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf