Project: Tianjin 4A Sports Park
Architecture: Ballistic Architecture Machine
Location: Tianjin, China
Area: 42000 m2
Year: 2024
Photo Credits: Wu Qingshan
Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM), a multidisciplinary design firm with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and New York, continues to challenge conventional ideas about urban landscapes. Their latest project, Tianjin 4A Sports Park, is an action-packed design for a sports park in a mega port city in China. The park has won the landscape project of the year title at the 16th Grand Prix du Design Awards in Canada and received recognition at the Architizer A+ Awards for its innovative approach to embedding learning environments in public spaces through play.
Historical Inspiration
The design of Tianjin 4A Sports Park is deeply rooted in the site’s history, which once included a temple and a small town called Yixing. The residents of the original Yixing town moved their entire village and reconstructed it north of Tianjin city, only for it to be eventually destroyed. BAM honors this history by utilizing the urban plan of the original Yixing as a palimpsest, resurfacing the lost history in a contemporary form.
Quadrant Design
The park is divided into four overlapping quadrants, each with a unique programmatic identity:
- Sports Quadrant (North): Connected to the residential district, this area focuses on sports facilities.
- Food Quadrant (East): Located near the B1 and metro, it features a beer garden and outdoor eating areas.
- Play Quadrant (South): Includes various play environments and an active water maze that connects to the family-based programs in the retail area.
- Maze Quadrant (West): Comprises four different mazes—water, hedge, earth, and wood—offering diverse environments for families to explore.
The central axes, running northwest to southeast and featuring a large central plaza, provide open spaces for activities and events, connecting the quadrants and enhancing the park’s functionality.
Thematic Integration
The maze is a central theme, connecting spatial and thematic aspects of the park. It reflects the historical organization of Yixing Towns around a central temple and ‘Teacher’s Street,’ symbolizing the journey of learning. The maze design echoes the feel of ancient towns with meandering streets, representing the continuous search for knowledge and personal paths.
Ecological and Educational Features
Despite its relatively small size, the park integrates significant ecological features:
- Geothermal Chimney: Transformed into a yellow eye-catching landmark, functioning as a steam exhaust and an educational highlight.
- Water Mountain: An interactive hydrology model replicating the Yangtze River delta landscape, Three Gorges Reservoir, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. This feature educates children about environmental management through play, reflecting broader themes of landscape manipulation and sustainability.
Connecting to Nature
BAM emphasizes the importance of parks in connecting people to a perceived natural environment. While urban parks are constructed spaces, they fulfill a fundamental human desire for green and open areas. BAM’s design philosophy, “Nature is an Idea,” underscores the value of creating spaces that evoke the feel of nature, making urban environments more human-scaled and comfortable.
Sports and Patterns as Design Language
BAM uses sports and patterns to create a relaxing urban escape. Sports courts and various recreational facilities are integrated into the aesthetic language of the park, marked with stripes, colors, and geometric elements. This design approach makes Tianjin 4A Sports Park a hyper-efficient space that offers diverse recreational opportunities for all age groups, from young to old.
Conclusion
Tianjin 4A Sports Park by Ballistic Architecture Machine is a groundbreaking project that reimagines urban recreational spaces. By blending historical elements with modern design, integrating ecological and educational features, and utilizing sports and patterns as a design language, BAM has created a shared retreat that challenges conventional boundaries of landscape, architecture, and urban living.
