The fluid forms of the centre’s architecture echo the tapering geometries evident in the hulls of the region’s traditional sailing ships that were initially designed during the Song Dynasty approximately a thousand years ago. These historic vessels established the Pearl River as China’s leading centre of global trade.

The sports centre also integrates environmental concepts from the local Lingnan vernacular architecture that include generous areas of sheltered spaces cooled with effective natural ventilation techniques during the region’s humid subtropical summer months.

The stadium’s roof has been designed as a system of layers that shelter the 60,000 spectators from rain and direct sunlight while also enabling rising warm air to be naturally vented outside the building envelope. This distinctive layered roof encircles the stadium, emulating the pleated silk structures of traditional Chinese fans.

Adjacent to the primary approach from the north to the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge which connects the Greater Bay Area’s major urban centres, the sports centre’s architecture on the banks of the Pearl River marks the gateway to Guangzhou and the districts of the northern Greater Bay Area.

A network of vertical louvres defines the curvatures of each building within the centre. Informed by advanced digital 3D-modelling to optimise shading within their civic spaces, the buildings’ curvilinear forms are also designed to encourage natural cooling by the prevailing summer winds that blow inland from the South China Sea.

Hosting 60,000 spectators for a variety of different sporting events, the stadium’s seating bowl can be adjusted to provide ideal spectator conditions for each specific event; ensuring optimal views of the athletes and the most exciting event atmosphere, together with maximum flexibility for differing uses throughout the year.