Reimaging a traditional single-purpose stadium as a community wellness hub integrated within a public park
Shanghai Hongkou Stadium and Luxun Park
A vibrant urban hub of sports, culture, recreation, and retail
Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium was China’s first professional soccer stadium. Built in the 1990s as a single purpose structure, the stadium is embarking on an ambitious transformation which will reposition it at the center of a new mixed-use health and wellness hub.
Located along Hongkou District’s major north-south green corridor, the stadium is accessible via public transit, including an elevated light rail and underground subway. Currently, however, the stadium remains isolated. It sits empty on non-game days, and offers limited connections to the vibrant cultural and commercial context which surrounds it. Underutilized space around the stadium and underneath the adjacent elevated light rail line presents an opportunity to stitch back into the urban fabric of the district.
A multi-functional urban stadium for everyone
Recent focus has been on the development of Hongkou District’s riverfront. The master plan repositions the stadium as a catalyst for a larger health and wellness destination
Situated in the heart of Hongkou district, the project is positioned to continue the success from the North Bund
Sasaki’s design strategy for the international competition to rethink the district began by addressing the lack of connection between the stadium and the abutting Luxun Park. The park’s landscape is extended through the stadium and rises to meet the landscape as it flows through the building. Thinking beyond the stadium itself, one of the most significant design interventions is the creation of the Midline– an elevated park built upon the infrastructure of the light rail corridor. Connecting Hongkou’s university district to the north with the cultural and commercial districts to the south, the Midline is an iconic recreational spine for the city. The 2.2 kilometer first phase of the Midline provides uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle access and links surrounding neighborhoods with a variety of community recreational uses within the stadium. At street level, new shops and restaurants embrace the entrance to the subway and activate the stadium’s main plaza and podium.
The imposing infrastructure of the elevated light rail line is high enough to allow for a mid-level circulation strategy in addition to the surface roadway below and train above
The design strategy extends Luxun Park’s landscape through the stadium, lifting it to flow through the building’s public concourses and linking to the light rail platform
Thinking beyond the confines of the building, the initial design strategy was to integrate the stadium’s architecture with its urban context and the public realm
A planned upgrade to Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium presented an opportunity to integrate it with an adjacent 120 year old park, adding new life to both destinations
To remedy existing bottlenecks, multiple new access points are provided into both the district and the stadium
By emphasizing connections to transit, coupled with the additional mobility offed by the Midline, traffic lanes are reduced and reconfigured with a complete streets strategy
In addition to the new commercial and community recreational program, Sasaki’s design proposal expands the stadium’s capacity by 15,000 seats, accommodating a total of 50,000 spectators in an optimized seating arrangement. The integrity of the existing structural components of the stadium were also thoughtfully respected. A significant portion of the existing structure remains– including its core column grid– with new supports seamlessly integrated. The renovated stadium has 9 levels, each providing traditional functions like concessions and restrooms, while incorporating a diversity of new experiences including a soccer museum, VIP clubs, community recreation facilities, and a cantilevered restaurant that offers 360 degree views of the field, the adjacent park, and the Shanghai skyline. Rooftop gardens and outdoor concourses are open to the public, extending access from the adjacent park.
An elevated landscape coined the “Midline” presents an opportunity to connect Hongkou’s university district to the north with downtown Shanghai to the south
The Midline provides uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle access and links surrounding neighborhoods with community recreational uses around and within the stadium
Green roofs extend the texture of Luxun Park, and transparent facades provide train riders with views into the various recreational facilities in and around the stadium
Wide bridges join the light rail platform with the main concourse of the stadium, adding opportunities for retail and restaurants both on the street and above
The Midline provides uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle access and links surrounding neighborhoods with community recreational uses around and within the stadium
Green roofs extend the texture of Luxun Park, and transparent facades provide train riders with views into the various recreational facilities in and around the stadium
Wide bridges join the light rail platform with the main concourse of the stadium, adding opportunities for retail and restaurants both on the street and above
By positioning the stadium as a community asset, its renovation reaches far beyond its original function. Many stadiums serve the single purpose of hosting sporting events, resulting in an empty building during non-game days and in the off-season. Sasaki’s design concept reimagines the arena as a multi-functional complex that fulfills the demands of large events while also serving as a unique public space for all citizens. With the main concourse integrated as an extension of Luxun Park, the stadium supplements the landscape with vistas across the park to the city beyond. Symbolizing competitiveness and sportsmanship, the two opposing rings of the new structure redistribute existing functions and create new ones.
A significant reduction in construction costs is achieved by retaining much of the existing structure and column grid and building upon the existing framework
Seven of the stadium’s nine levels are accessible to the public on both event and non-event days, ensuring that the building benefits from active use throughout the year
The addition of 15,000 new seats provided an opportunity to reconfigure sightlines and proximity to the field, allowing spectators to feel closer to the action
Free public access doesn’t end at the building. Luxun Park extends into the stadium on two concourse levels, providing views to the field even for those who can’t afford a ticket
Although proposed renovations to the building improve its aesthetics and add much needed community program, it is also designed for to be significantly more sustainable. The opening created by the shifted rings offers views into the park while improving thermal comfort through passive ventilation. Propelled by negative air pressure when hot air generated by the audience rises, the openings siphon cooler air from the park into the stadium. Rainwater runoff is collected and stored in underground cisterns used to irrigate the field and replenish lakes in the park. The facade is built from glass that digitally adjust its opacity to minimize passive solar gain and reduce energy consumption. During events, this façade also functions as a digital screen to broadcast events, allowing fans who cannot afford a ticket to the game to watch from the park and plaza, while the plaza is equipped with pavers that harness the movement of pedestrians to generate electricity.
To satisfy a desire for community recreation, gyms and multi-purpose courts are located within the stadium, while an elevated running track and a skate park add to a host of outdoor uses
The stadium’s cantilevered ring provides a variety of community recreational facilities
Cross section through the new commercial program, renovated stadium, and Luxun Park
Stairs and ramps wrap the façade and doubles as amphitheater seating, offering additional outdoor programming opportunities for both the stadium and the park
Grand steps reaching from the main concourse down to the plaza doubles as social stairs
Interior LED light surface projects different colors through the facade, indicating the opposing teams during game, and becomes a district attraction
Passive ventilation, pavers which harness pedestrian movement to generate electricity, and rainwater collection for irrigation are just some of the strategies that inextricably link building and landscape
To enhance circulation and maximize efficiency during these large events, the redesign of the stadium offers seamless connectivity with the subway and light rail, encouraging fans to use public transit. The stadium’s main concourse serves as an extension of the park, inviting visitors to explore the adjacent landscape while decentralizing peak foot traffic before and after games. Together, the stadium’s new landscapes will increase Luxun Park’s size by 36%, adding more active recreational uses and repositioning Hongkou Stadium as icon for Shanghai’s growing passion for sports, health, and wellness.
Below is the project introduction video:
For more information contact Michael Grove or Tao Zhang.