Overview of Ordos Smart Sports Park – PLAT ASIA has been tasked with revitalizing the urban square known as “SHIJIE” in Kangbashi District, Ordos, China. The aim is to transform it into a people-friendly, smart snded by residential areas, office buildings, a school, and an exhibition center, with excellent accessibility. The 19.7-hectare site already features a themed sculpture, “SHIJIE,” and a few gate ball courts. However, due to an inefficient layout, the absence of a professional track, and insufficient service areas, the square has underperformed, and it’s time for a much-needed renovation.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The Land Fabric of Ordos Smart Sports Park– The Ordos Smart Sports Park, a vast expanse covering 87 thousand square kilometers, encompasses a diverse landscape featuring deserts, steppe, and river environments. Principal designer BIAN Baoyang’s initial concept centers on translating this unique, coexisting landscape into a spatial experience within the park. The KUBUQI Desert and Mu Us Desert, shaped by the desert climate and northwest winds, give rise to dune formations with a gradual slope in the northwest and a steeper incline in the southeast. These natural patterns inspired the creation of micro-terrain in the same direction within the park.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The steppe region in Ordos bears witness to geological transformations spanning thousands of years. The park’s design serves as a canvas that showcases the steppe’s grassland elements as the backdrop. The winding HONGLIU Rivers, running from south to north through WUSHEN County, and the eastward spread of the Yellow River in DALATE County contribute curved lines that shape a dynamic circulation route. Along this route, island-like spaces offer places for relaxation, fostering social encounters among families and friends, all set to a lively pace.
© Holi Landscape Photography
Ordos Smart Sports Park’s Design Concept
Inspired by the local terrain, the park’s layout and circulation path are thoughtfully derived. The circular runway serves as the initial representation of the river in the landscape. The Blue runway, reflecting the Ordos sky and the river, enhances the park’s appeal. The central axis of the park retains the themed sculpture line and incorporates a prominent runway. To cater to different age groups and exercise preferences, five arrays with distinct functions have been developed. These include the comprehensive ball courts area, featuring football pitches for 5 & 7-A-Side, basketball and tennis courts, badminton courts, and table tennis courts, accommodating various professional and leisure activities.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The Ordos Smart Sports Park’s core houses a kids’ square, while a dedicated bike field is designed for teenagers. An inclusive exercise area caters to the needs of older individuals. The original gate ball court area has been transformed into a professional gate ball stadium. The alkaline soil area, unsuitable for planting, is now a seasonal space, offering sand pits for summer and skating tracks in winter. A new water pool and gesture-based fountain enhance the park’s water-based activities, ensuring a vibrant and diverse recreational experience.
© Holi Landscape Photography
At the heart of the Ordos Smart Sports Park, a new architectural structure seamlessly combines the kids’ playground and the Ordos Smart Sports Park’s management service center. Topping this design is a roof lookout that offers sweeping views of both the park and the city. The service center building’s façade is thoughtfully designed, incorporating various recreational equipment for children, fostering a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. The first floor is a versatile space housing an office, sports store, shop, café, and restroom facilities. An innovative semi-open corridor and a façade adorned with vertical shading elements enhance transparency and encourage interaction among visitors, creating a vibrant and inviting environment.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The parkland predominantly retains the natural charm of a woodland pasture in the Ordos, allowing for a range of human-scale leisure activities amidst the grassy expanse, including the increasingly popular pastime of camping. The landscape designers have focused on nurturing the growth of the existing tall arbor trees while clearing away dense undergrowth that hinders the panoramic view of the surroundings. This transparent landscape layer not only promotes a sense of psychological security but also fosters a deep connection between people and nature.
© Holi Landscape Photography
Introducing new native plant species, alongside the original Populous alba, Pinus sylvestris, and Salix matsudana, aims to establish a thriving local plant ecosystem. A consistent shading system adheres to a unified design language. In addition to the natural tree canopies, membrane structure pavilions are strategically placed throughout the Ordos Smart Sports Park. These pavilions serve as comfortable rest areas along the tracks and offer convenient spaces for families with children. They are versatile and adaptable, designed with curved ridge lines and orientations that shield from the sun throughout the day, harmonizing with the distinctive dunes of Ordos Smart Sports Park.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The park boasts an innovative management platform that actively engages with its visitors. A suite of smart landscape installations includes controlled lighting, real-time monitoring of traffic data along the jogging loop, intelligent navigation matched with a visual impairment (VI) system, a water purification system, and solar energy-based charging stations seamlessly integrated into outdoor furniture. These intelligent systems play a pivotal role in delivering a personalized and sustainable service, all carefully considered during the planning process.
© Holi Landscape Photography
The Ordos Smart Sports Park’s commitment to environmental well-being revolves around the principles of water circulation and the use of eco-friendly materials. Following the natural terrain contours with variations in elevation, the park establishes a designated path for stream flow and incorporates permeable materials. It guides water into marshland areas, ultimately achieving a harmonious and sustainable water balance within the park.
© Holi Landscape Photography
Design for People- Since its grand opening in August 2023, the Ordos Smart Sports Park has become a magnet for visitors of all ages, with the kids’ playground in particular garnering widespread acclaim and popularity. Additionally, the football pitch has played host to various professional games, solidifying its status as a pivotal landmark in Ordos. Notably, the park’s transformation was successfully achieved within the constraints of a strict budget, thanks to the collaborative efforts of designers, clients, collaborators, and contractors. The Ordos Smart Sports Park has truly evolved into an urban square designed for the people, championing a burgeoning trend toward a healthier lifestyle and bringing green spaces back into the daily routines of everyone.
© Holi Landscape Photography
Project Info:
Architects: PLAT ASIA
Area: 197000 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Holi Landscape Photography
Manufacturers: BAIXIN, Huayibo, Longxiang Sports
Lead Architects: Baoyang Bian
Construction Contractor: XINGTAI GROUP
Construction Supervision: Inner Mongolia SHOUXIN Construction Supervision Co., Ltd.
Design Team: Xiaozhan Zhang, Xiaochun Wang, Lulu Guo, Xiaohui He, Xin Guo, Lu Yang, Xuan Ma, Qiang Hao, Lei Ji, Baihui Bi, Yuan Liu, Feng Zhu, Yubin Zheng, Siyang Yu, Geng Yang, Dongmei Yang, Heng Xue, Mei Liu
Architecture Construction Design: HUACHENGBOYUAN Engineering Technology Group
Clients: Kangbashi District Forestry and Greenery Service Center of Ordos
City: Ordos City
Country: China
