Zaha Hadid Architects has completed construction of the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre, a sprawling waterfront sports complex in Guangzhou, China, featuring curved stadiums designed for both sporting events and cultural performances. The complex represents one of the firm's latest major projects in China, showcasing the signature flowing architectural style the practice is known for worldwide.
Located within a 70-hectare waterfront park in Guangzhou's Nansha district, the comprehensive sports facility includes three main venues: a 60,000-seat stadium, a 20,000-seat arena for basketball and indoor events, and a 4,000-seat aquatic center complete with swimming pools and diving facilities. The complex also features athlete accommodation facilities and outdoor training pitches and tracks specifically designed for regional schools to use.
Zaha Hadid Architects collaborated with local firm Guangdong Architectural Design and Research Institute (GDAD) on the project, which is positioned to host major sporting competitions and cultural events. The design team specifically optimized the complex to take advantage of Nansha's mild winter climate, creating ideal conditions for outdoor training facilities that will help develop future athletic talent in the region.
The architectural inspiration for the complex's distinctive curved forms comes from the hulls of traditional sailing ships from China's Song Dynasty. This historical reference is evident in the flowing, organic shapes of all three main buildings, which feature sweeping curves that create dramatic silhouettes against the waterfront setting. The design approach reflects Zaha Hadid Architects' philosophy of drawing inspiration from local cultural and historical elements.
Vertical louvres line the curved facades of all buildings, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes by helping to cool and shade the interior spaces. The design incorporates principles from traditional Lingnan architecture, a regional architectural style known for its climate-responsive features. Sheltered areas have been strategically integrated throughout the complex to provide passive cooling and ventilation during the region's humid subtropical summers.
The 60,000-seat stadium features a particularly innovative roof design that functions as a layered system providing multiple benefits for spectators and the building's performance. This distinctive roof shelters all 60,000 spectators from rain and direct sunlight while simultaneously allowing rising warm air to be naturally vented outside the building envelope. The layered design creates a visual effect that emulates the pleated silk structures found in traditional Chinese fans, adding cultural significance to the functional elements.
A striking curved opening in the stadium's exterior wall serves multiple purposes, allowing cool sea air from the Pearl River estuary to flow into the venue while providing spectacular views of the surrounding water. The stadium features an adjustable seating bowl that can be reconfigured to accommodate different types of events, from athletic competitions to large-scale cultural performances and concerts.
Environmental considerations played a significant role in the complex's design and site planning. Wetlands surrounding the venue were specifically designed for flood prevention and to help manage excess water caused by sea-level changes, reflecting growing awareness of climate change impacts in coastal urban areas. These water management features integrate seamlessly with the overall architectural concept.
This project joins a growing portfolio of major works by Zaha Hadid Architects in China, including a recently completed curving footbridge in Hangzhou that weaves around three arches and a sinuous high-rise tower in Shenzhen designed for an education charity that recently topped out. The Greater Bay Area Sports Centre demonstrates the firm's continued commitment to creating innovative architectural solutions that respond to local climate, culture, and functional requirements while maintaining their distinctive design aesthetic.
