UNDEFEATED’s new sports center in Qinhuangdao seamlessly blends architectural design with street culture, prioritizing functionality and user experience.
Contents
Embracing the Existing Architectural Framework
The design team, led by Link Architects, inherited an architecturally sound structure with a unified style. Instead of disrupting this pre-existing framework, they opted for a seamless integration of the sports center’s functional elements. Drawing inspiration from sports equipment design, the team infused the space with practical features that organically reflect the brand’s and sports’ DNA. This approach is evident in the choice of materials – stone, wood, metal, and concrete – which are carefully selected to complement the building’s inherent aesthetic and create a cohesive experience. The sports center’s main logo on the exterior wall, featuring the FUTURA font synonymous with UNDEFEATED, is applied with a flat, non-intrusive approach that follows the natural contours of the building. This understated application amplifies the brand’s inherent strength and presence.
Fostering Community Interaction through Design
UNDEFEATED’s brand philosophy centers around the concept of ‘Friends and Family,’ emphasizing community as a vital element of street culture. Link Architects embraced this ethos by prioritizing user interaction and community engagement in the design. Recognizing that the sports center’s main entrance is situated on the side of the building, with the main street-facing entrance typically closed, the team sought to enhance the visibility of the brand and the sports center itself. They achieved this by designing two rotating concrete benches in front of the main entrance. These benches can be reconfigured to serve as spectator seating during basketball games, showcasing the facility’s functionality. Moreover, they act as urban furniture, wayfinding signage, and adaptable elements for hosting various events.
Translating Brand Identity into Design Elements
To ensure a unified and engaging user experience across the sports center’s diverse indoor and outdoor spaces, the design team delved into UNDEFEATED’s brand archives. They identified the weight plate, a potent symbol of athletic power, as a recurring design motif. This element is ingeniously translated across various modular units, creating a cohesive visual language. Outdoors, the weight plate design is incorporated into granite benches, umbrella stand bases, bar stools, and bicycle parking spaces. Indoors, the same design is rendered in wood, crafted from laminated plywood with meticulous chamfering and polishing. This choice of material respects the indoor ambiance and pays homage to UNDEFEATED’s signature wooden grid element, while maintaining the visual connection established by the weight plate design. The weight plate’s form and function are thoughtfully intertwined. The central hole, reminiscent of a weight plate’s center, serves as a flexible node for attaching tables, poster stands, and sunshades. This modularity ensures adaptability while reinforcing the sports-centric identity of the space.
Seamless Wayfinding and Brand Integration
The sports center’s wayfinding system adheres to UNDEFEATED’s brand character, employing minimalist and intuitive signage. This design choice reflects a commitment to a seamless user experience, allowing visitors to focus on their athletic pursuits without being overwhelmed by visually distracting elements. The brand logo and directional cues are subtly integrated into the environment, maintaining the overall aesthetic harmony. Link Architects, who also designed UNDEFEATED’s Shanghai store, demonstrate a consistent commitment to functionality and brand authenticity. The sports center in Qinhuangdao embodies this commitment, creating a dynamic and engaging space that celebrates athleticism and UNDEFEATED’s ‘Never Give Up’ spirit.
Project Information:
Architects: Link Architects
Area: 3000 m²
Project Year: 2024
Project Location: Qinhuangdao, China
Project Type: Sports Buildings
Photographer: Cunzai Architecture
