Daily Meets Occasional

This design focused on the negative relationship between the low usage of Hongkou Soccer Arena and high density urban environment. I tried to renovate the area between the arena and the train station, so the extra space could be used by surrounding community for daily activities.

To provide public spaces for the residential area, we choose to make use of the leftover space between the arena and the train station. The place should work well for both daily activities and occasional soccer games. To make best use of the area, convenient access for the residents needs to be offered. My group members and I worked on urban design to build connection between the arena and the surroundings. From the biggest square in front of the arena, then the little plazas enclosed by five storey high buildings, to walking paths between the apartments, the public spaces formed an accessible system. This would solve the problem that lack of recreation places in the neighborhood. \nThe major problem of the arena is that the flow conflict between people and cars, and that of players, security, media with restaurants, stores, swimming pool, and other functions. My strategy was to introduce platforms at 5 and 9 meters level height. These platforms connected the elevated train station and the arena, dividing the flow of cars, players, fans. The first floor would be used for parking, entrance of players, and other facilities. The upper floors provided abundant waiting and commercial area for soccer fans. When there was no soccer game, the waiting area became basketball courts, restaurants and market. In this way the limited space could be used efficiently.\nThe final design constituted of a covered large space beside the arena, which was prepared for the occasional gathering of soccer fans; and scattered plazas with low-rise commercial buildings attached to the train station. These human scale blocks downsized the scale of the massive transportation facility. The platforms and glassing kept away the noise of cars, so that the upper floor could be pleasant for daily activities. When people entered this place, he or she could see all kinds of activities happening in one space: jogging, basketball playing, dining, shopping, cars and train running. This would be a pleasant and dynamic urban experience, both for the residents and visiting soccer fans.