In eastern China, in the historic city of Quzhou, a gigantic construction project has begun for a 700,000 m² sports campus. The unique design of this campus is a mixture of natural and organic forms, giving the landscape an atmosphere that is both poetic and fantasy, as if we were on a planet where the atmosphere of Earth and Mars were intertwined.

The first and second phases of construction of this campus will cover approximately 340,000 m² and will include a 30,000-seat stadium, a 10,000-seat gymnasium and a swimming pool with 2,000 person capacity stands. In addition to these spaces dedicated purely to sport, Quzhou inhabitants will be have a museum of science and technology, accommodations and hotels, as well as a youth center and stores.

MAD’s ambition is to create an urban space focused on sports and ecology, but also to transform this complex into an artistic park that will create a link between the city’s heritage and its history. Quzhou is a city surrounded by greenery, with a centuries-old history, both culturally and philosophically. Composed of a series of mountains and a lake, this surrealist landscape, isolated from the city by a dense forest, appears like a mirage, having the potential to become the soul of the city.

The adjacent “hills” on the northeast side form the gymnasium, aquatic center and training center, above which you find public spaces and natural landscapes that invite visitors to contemplate the surroundings. The crater-shaped stadium is crowned by a translucent halo, floating like a cloud, symbol of a dialogue between sky and earth. The trails between the mountains and the lake encourage people to walk slowly through the park, run along the trails or simply sit on the lawn to enjoy the scenery. Natural light penetrates widely into the interior spaces of buildings through skylights, providing natural ventilation. The built spaces are covered with greenery, saving energy and strengthening links between man and nature.

The Quzhou Sports Campus marks a break with traditional square-mesh urban buildings, advocating a future where the harmonious relationship between man and nature occupies a central place. This, by the way, is one of MAD’s key themes.  “The relationship between man and nature is not only about ecology and sustainability, but also about spirit and mood,” says the agency’s founder.