Atelier LI: Winner of World Design Awards 2025. Located on the south bank of the Zhang Village River in the city of Qingdao, the sports center is a complex offering a variety of exercise programs. The design emphasizes the transitional role of the sports center, bridging the scale of the park with the urban scale defined by city routes and buildings. Higher volumes are positioned along the urban route, showcasing a 100-meter-long facade, while lower volumes are placed near the riverbank, giving the enormous structure an approachable gesture for park visitors. People can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere around the sports center and engage in activities along the riverside walking path.

As a building in the park, it contains a series of terraces defining the interactional boundaries with the surrounding landscape. The central areas are the exercise halls, which need fully enclosed and separate spaces for functional purposes. However, numerous opportunities are created to allow people to enjoy the terraces, offering views of the river and fresh air. These terraces, ranging from multiple balconies to expansive rooftop playgrounds, make the sports center a natural and open structure that responds to its environment and maintains a harmonious connection with the river park. They serve as outdoor public spaces within the building, extending into the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, the sequence of playing fields on the west side also continues upward into the sports center.

The complex features vertically organized programs that require expansive interior spaces, including a natatorium, a badminton hall, a basketball hall, and a gymnasium with sports goods retail areas. A cafeteria is set on the top floor, providing a stunning view of the entire river park. Each program is put in a distinct volume defined by its form and color to enhance the complex’s legibility. Most part of the ground floor is open-air, allowing the park to flow through and enabling visitors to continue their leisurely stroll and jogging. The path organized by a series of stairs and passages weaves vertically through the entire building, guiding park visitors to the sports facilities and terraces, ensuring the sports center integrates smoothly into the park through the movement of users and visitors.

Metal curtains are installed on the main facades of the building to create a semi-transparent effect that softens the massive scale of the complex while preserving the cubic form of its volumes. Inside, these curtains also filter sunlight, creating an ideal environment for sports activities. At night, the building transforms its appearance, with colors and lights glowing from its internal spaces, projecting a lively and dynamic presence to the city.

Project Details:-
Firm
Atelier LI

Architect
Bai LI

Project Name
Sports Center of Zhang Village River Park

Project Category
Sports Design (Concept)

Team
Architects: Bai LI & Xuan LI (Atelier LI) Landscape Architects: Lili LIU, Shenhua HE, Jingjing SHI (LDG)

Project Location
Qingdao

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©Atelier LI

Atelier LI
www.atelierli.cn

Founded in 2018 in Shanghai, Atelier LI is an architectural office led by principals Bai LI & Xuan LI, the two founding partners completed their studies in Paris. Their design approach seamlessly integrates contemporary lifestyles with natural oriental aesthetics across architecture, interior, and landscape projects. Through a modern architectural language, they strive to craft spaces that promote comfortable, nature-inspired living while emphasizing the significance of public spaces in today’s life and society. The works by Atelier LI have been featured in various international and domestic design publications, and have garnered multiple international accolades.