In an urban context dominated by large-scale developments, the project made by SelgasCano is summarized in a sequence of low-rise, organic volumes that blend into the landscape. Inspired by traditional Chinese water villages, the different pavilions are immersed in vegetation, emphasizing transparency, openness, and connection with the natural environment.
Bridges, courtyards, and walkways connect the project with local heritage. This architecture does not impose itself as a massive structure, but rather presents itself as a reference point that reclaims space for the human body. Rather than competing with noise (visual, spatial, and symbolic), the proposal for the sports center emerges organically as a sculptural volume, which grants the project memory and identity.
Sports Center for the Songjiang District in Shanghai by SelgasCano. Rendering by Playtime
Project description by SelgasCano
The proposed sports centre in Sijing Town, on the outskirts of Shanghai, is envisioned as a sustainable, humanscale landmark deeply integrated with its natural and cultural context. Positioned near major transport routes and green corridors, the site offers excellent accessibility and opportunities for promoting active mobility. The project emphasizes connection with nature, incorporating jogging paths, bike trails, and links to nearby parks to create a wellness-focused network.
Surrounded by oversized developments, the urban landscape of Sonjing is defined by height, density, and speed. In this context, our proposal is envisioned not as another massive structure, but as a counterbalance, a green landmark that reclaims space for the body, the senses, and the soul.
Rather than a single massive structure, the design consists of multiple low, transparent volumes nestled into the landscape. These pavilions are surrounded by greenery, emphasizing openness, human scale, and harmony with the environment. Inspired by traditional Chinese water towns, the architecture uses spatial rhythms of bridges, courtyards, and walkways, connecting the design to local heritage.
By embracing the land rather than dominating it, we offer something the surrounding skyline cannot: harmony, openness, and a deep sense of connection to nature. As part of this vision, two organic volumes emerge as keyprotagonists, two bold yet fluid forms that predominate the composition and immediately capture attention. Their sculptural character gives the project a strong visual identity, while maintaining harmony with the overall horizontal layout and reinforcing the commitment to human scale and sensorial experience.
Functionally, the centre is organized into distinct zones for swimming, multisport courts, and badminton, with strong indoor-outdoor connections. Smart technologies and passive strategies optimize climate control and sustainability. Materials are chosen for environmental performance, including ETFE, recycled tartan, wood, and low-VOC finishes.
In contemporary urban contexts, architecture often competes with noise (visual, spatial, and symbolic). Creating a landmark is not about scale alone, but about resonance. A landmark captures attention, yes, but more importantly, it creates memory. It becomes a point of orientation, a reference within the city’s emotional and visual landscape.
In our proposal, the dominant organic forms serve precisely this purpose: to act as a magnetic presence within the environment. Their unique geometry and vibrant materiality make them instantly recognizable, sparking curiosity and inviting approach. As landmarks, they offer identity not only to the building, but to the wider neighborhood, anchoring it with meaning, character, and a sense of place.
Lighting plays a vital role: natural daylight animates interiors, while nighttime illumination turns the building into a sculptural beacon. Altogether, the sports centre acts as a community hub, a space where architecture, culture, and nature converge to support health, connection, and identity.
