A groundbreaking sports and cultural facility has opened in Chengdu, China, showcasing innovative architectural design that seamlessly blends functionality with cultural heritage. The Jianyang Sports and Cultural Complex, designed by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corp. Ltd. (CSWADI), represents a new model for comprehensive urban development with its massive 419,939 square meter footprint.
The complex, completed in 2022, was specifically built to host major international events including the World Games and the Universiade. The facility integrates an impressive array of amenities described as "eight venues, three centers, two parks, one home, and one grand theater" into a unified complex. This ambitious project transforms the traditional concept of sports facilities by creating a multifunctional space that serves both competitive events and community needs.
Designed around the concept of a "three-dimensional park," the complex features a sophisticated multi-level greenway system that connects to Chengdu's broader urban green network. The design incorporates connections to the Tuojiang River and Aoshan Park, creating a continuous natural landscape interface that extends far beyond the building's boundaries. The architects implemented a "dual-loop nested" green structure, featuring a 150-mu core green area and an 80-mu ring-shaped landscape belt integrated through radial corridors into a 450-mu central sports park.
A distinctive six-meter-high "aerial vitality loop" serves as the project's spatial main axis, effectively linking the northern and southern functional zones while maximizing ground-level accessibility. This elevated pathway creates substantial public space at ground level, enhancing both accessibility and activity flow throughout the complex. The flexible design philosophy allows the venue to seamlessly transition from hosting sporting events during competitions to serving as commercial and cultural spaces during off-peak periods, ensuring sustainable long-term operation.
The building's facade pays homage to Sichuan's rich cultural heritage through the incorporation of traditional elements such as "folded fan lanterns" and "bamboo-woven porcelain." These cultural motifs have been translated through advanced parametric design into a modern intelligent skin system that provides both functional sun shading and optimal natural lighting. The landscape design further reinforces regional identity by recreating the imagery of Western Sichuan forest groves, known locally as "Linpan," while blending water features with sports fields to create spaces rich in philosophical meaning and regional characteristics.
The project was led by design principals Zheng Yong and Sun Hao, with architectural disciplines headed by Jiang Mingwei and a comprehensive team covering structural, mechanical, electrical, and landscape architecture specialties. Photography by Renke Jiang and 404NF Studio captures the complex's integration with its natural surroundings and its role as both a world-class sporting venue and community gathering place.
The Jianyang Sports and Cultural Complex stands as more than just a venue for international competitions; it serves as an important hub for citizens' daily cultural and sports activities. The project embodies Chengdu's vision of a "park city" while expressing the cultural confidence of "Sichuan charm and Shu elegance," creating an exemplary model where function and aesthetics, major events and everyday life, are perfectly integrated into a single transformative urban landmark.
