Selgascano, a Spanish architecture firm, has unveiled its design for the Sijing Town Sports Center in Shanghai, China, where the firm won the second place in the competition.

The proposed sports center in Sijing Town, located on the outskirts of Shanghai, is designed as a sustainable landmark that is deeply integrated with its natural and cultural surroundings.

The location promotes active mobility and provides excellent accessibility due to its proximity to key transportation networks and green corridors. By include bike trails, jogging paths, and connections to neighboring parks, the project creates a network that is wellness-focused and highlights a connection with nature.

Sijing's urban landscape is defined by height, density, and speed amid expansive urbanization. Our plan stands out in this regard as a counterpoint—a green landmark that restores room for the body, senses, and soul.

The design incorporates several modest, transparent volumes that are merged into the surroundings rather than a single, enormous building. 

The foliage that envelops these pavilions emphasizes openness, human scale, and environmental balance. The architecture, which links the design to local traditions, contains spatial elements such as bridges, courtyards, and pathways, drawing inspiration from ancient Chinese water cities.

The surrounding cityscape lacks balance, openness, and a deep connection to nature, which the studio provides by embracing the earth instead of overpowering it. 

Two organic volumes—two strong yet flowing shapes that take center stage in the composition and instantly draw the eye—emerge as essential components of this idea. While preserving harmony with the general horizontal arrangement and reaffirming our dedication to human size and sensory experience, their sculptural style gives the project a distinct visual identity.

The facility has good indoor-outdoor connectivity and is functionally divided into separate areas for badminton, swimming, and multipurpose courts. 

Climate management and sustainability are improved by passive tactics and smart technologies. We choose materials like wood, recycled tartan, ETFE, and low-VOC coatings based on them environmental performance.

Architecture frequently faces competition with noise, whether it be spatial, optical, or symbolic, in modern metropolitan environments. Resonance is more important than scale when creating a landmark. 

A genuine landmark draws attention and, more significantly, leaves a lasting impression. It shapes the emotional and visual environment of the city and acts as a point of orientation.

The distinctive organic features in our concept accomplish this by serving as a magnetic presence in the surrounding environment. They are readily recognized due to their distinctive geometry and vivid materiality, which piques interest and encourages investigation. 

Because they are landmarks, they provide the building and the larger neighborhood identity by giving it character, meaning, and a sense of place.

This design relies heavily on lighting, which turns the structure into a sculpture at night and animates the interiors during the day. All things considered, the sports facility is a community center where nature, architecture, and culture come together to promote identity, connection, and health.

Site plan

Concept diagram

Access Level

Upper level

Sections

Axonometric drawing

Axonometric drawing

Axonometric drawing

Axonometric drawing

Axonometric drawing

Recently, Selgascano and FRPO won an international competition for Rozafa Tower in Shkodër, Albania. In addition, the firm won the first prize in an international competition to design an exhibition hall in Beijing, China. 

Project facts

Project name: Sijing Town Sports Center

Architects: Selgascano

Design team: Leandra Matas, María Andrés, Fabiana Perrogón, Juan Múzquiz, Iñigo Riveira, Paolo Tringali, Inés Olavarrieta

Site: Songjiang District, Shanghai, China

Date: June 2025

Area: 14,500m2

All renderings © Playtime.

All drawings © Selgascano.

> via Selgascano

concept ETFE membrane Shanghai sports sports complex