Urban Oasis Of Nexus Sant Espòtif

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The project serves as a sports hub in the neighbourhood with games arena, fitness room, dance room, activity rooms, children play room, etc. Beside active sports for youths, courtyards and gardens are created to attract elderly coming to rest and doing light exercise, such as practising Tai Chi, a popular local exercise. With the surrounding natural setting, the venue is more than a sport centre, but an urban oasis for inter-generation enjoyment, where sports meet beautiful natural scenery.

Dimensions & Packaging

Site area: 6193 sq.m. Construction floor area: 12900.94 sq.m.

Tags

Sports Centre, urban oasis, fung shui hill, Che Kung Temple, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Production Technology

Passive environmental designs are used instead of highly delicate technology. The layout is made reference to traditional tropical courtyard house, central courtyard and all circulation space and lobbies are zero air-conditioned since they are protected from direct sunlight, openings on façade further enhance cross ventilation. Energy consuming is significantly reduced. Frosted and low-E glazings are used for windows and skylights to reduce direct heat gain while enabling natural lighting.

Design Challenge

Challenge came from the hill-side topography and limited site area versus the large area required for main games arena and functional spaces. The functional rooms are carefully placed according to the sloped site to minimize site formation, terrace arrangement is adopted to create various courtyards and gardens on different levels, forming a green spine that leads visitors from the low-level entrance to the hill behind.

Research

Studies were made to achieve a responsive design in such contrasting context between adjacent rural village area and urban area. The tectonic elements are clearly crafted to visually minimize the building bulk. Natural materials and colours are carefully chosen to achieve a harmony appearance with the surrounding natural setting, for example, fair faced concrete, granite and timber are mainly used. Courtyards and gardens are created to bind the project with adjacent natural context.

Inspiration

The motivation is to redefine the typical local sports centres design that stacking up functional rooms as a massive block. Inspiration comes from the layout of a nearby temple - passing an entrance gate, entering forecourt, courtyard, function rooms, main hall, and finally gardens. A leisure pedestrian route is created to intertwine functional spaces, courtyards and gardens, visitors can experience various activities while meandering through to reach the roof garden and the hill behind.

Project Duration

The project locates near Che Kung Temple Station in Shatin, Hong Kong. The sloping site is backed by a hill with tranquil natural setting. The project is a place of mediation between adjacent rural villages and dense public housing estates, and a meeting place for villagers and urban dwellers. The project also serves as the gateway leading to the Feng Shui hill behind, which is spiritually significant to the villagers living nearby. Construction commenced in 2015 and was completed in 2019.

Operation Flow

Dialogues between visitors, spaces and adjacent natural sceneries are essential in the design. Visual linkage are intentionally created between foyer and courtyard, between courtyard and various floors, between rooms, between inside and outside, between gardens and the hill behind. These linkages enhance way-finding, bring different users together, and encourage visitors to explore. People here should not only do sports inside a room, but also enjoy seeing each other and appreciate the nature.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Image 28, Sha Tin Che Kung Temple Sports Centre, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer Image 28, Extension of Interior Spaces as Covered Garden, 2020.
Image #3: Photographer Image 28, Multi-purpose Room, 2020.
Image #4: Photographer Image 28, Glass Courtyard and the Meandering Promenade, 2020.
Image #5: Photographer Image 28, Terraced Garden towards Fung Shui Hill, 2020.