Nestled at the foot of its namesake Tiger Mountain and facing the Jiangshan Port, the new Hushan Sports Park Swimming Center establishes a significant milestone for public infrastructure in the region. Designed by the innovative practice LYCS Architecture, the facility is the city’s first professional-grade venue capable of hosting national Class B swimming competitions. Encompassing a substantial floor area of 14,244 sqm, the project is a cornerstone of a broader “one stadium, two arenas” system that positions Jiangshan as a pioneering county-level city in Quzhou for high-caliber sports development.
The architectural concept is deeply rooted in the local context, drawing inspiration from the poetic theme of ‘river and mountain’. This narrative directly informs the building’s fluid and undulating surfaces, which respond organically to the surrounding terrain. Beyond its competitive purpose, the center is conceived as a vibrant civic space, integrating a public lobby, auditorium, and a rooftop garden. It houses two 50-meter pools—an eight-lane competition pool and a six-lane training pool—ensuring the facility serves both elite athletes and the daily public use of the local community.
A sophisticated circulation system is key to the building’s functionality, operating on a dual-ground-level plan. This elegant solution seamlessly separates athletes from spectators during regular hours and further efficiently divides audiences, athletes, media, and VIPs during formal competitions. This thoughtful approach optimizes both operational efficiency and the overall user experience, preventing congestion and ensuring a smooth flow for all visitors regardless of the occasion.
The building’s powerful form avoids symmetry, instead favoring a dynamic composition of horizontal, sloped, and vertical transitions. A continuous roof structure links the two main halls, creating a semi-open interstitial space that acts as a public threshold. The most striking external feature is its scale-like facade, an intricate assembly of 2,943 uniquely fabricated metal panels. Each folded plate interacts with sunlight to create a dynamic, shimmering effect, evoking the imagery of flowing water and rugged mountainous terrain. The entire process was guided by parametric modeling, enabling a precise digital-to-construction workflow.
Inside, the architectural language remains bold and expressive. The vast interior is defined by exposed roof trusses that span an impressive 48 meters, proudly displaying the building’s structural logic and immense scale. Walls and ceilings employ modular finishes, colored metal panels, and perforated surfaces to craft a functional yet aesthetically compelling environment. The integration of retractable partitions provides crucial spatial flexibility, allowing the venue to effortlessly transition from a high-stakes competition pool to a versatile space for community activities and events.
Ultimately, LYCS Architecture has delivered more than just a swimming facility; they have created a resilient civic anchor for a mid-sized city. The Hushan Sports Park Swimming Center successfully integrates professional competition infrastructure with educational and public functions, setting a new benchmark for multifunctional development. Its powerful architectural expression, born from the local landscape and enabled by contemporary digital tools, stands as a testament to a modern approach that values cultural resonance, adaptability, and community engagement in equal measure.