DP architects + arup associates design singapore national sports hub

DP architects + arup associates design singapore national sports hub
all images courtesy of DP architects and arup associates

the ‘singapore sports hub’ by DP architects and arup associates is asia’s first integrated sports, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle destination. located on a 35-hectare waterfront site, the venue provides a unique ecosystem at a pivotal point between the country’s expanding city center and the wider public community. the construct is a key project in the government’s strategy for urban redevelopment – ‘sports singapore vision 2030’ – promoting a more sustainable, healthy, and active society nation-wide. designed for long-term legacy usage from the beginning, it sets a new standard for adaptability and social integration. by providing premier stadiums for major events and inclusive public destination spaces, the athletic facility encourages everyday civic participation throughout the year.

the design invites the people of singapore to be active

building on this vision, the proposal has been developed to fully utilize the strategic location and to create a new landmark in terms of space, form, and quality of experience. for circulation purposes, an extensive walkable pathway links directly to local pedestrian and cycle networks and to singapore’s island-wide park connector system, providing contact to the gardens and residential areas of the wider city center waterfront. these features work to create a sequence of continuous communal areas, scaled for daily and occasional activities. easy access to the mass rapid transport system and other transit options have been carefully considered in relation to crowd safety and management during events with large congregations as they are separated from the structure’s service requirements that are accessed from adjacent expressways.

below the roof of the stadium lies a low-rise active ‘social plinth’

the focal point of the annex establishes the location for the national stadium, a state-of-the-art 55,000 seat sports venue, air-cooled and constructed with a movable roof and retractable seating to support the widest range of games for every season. it is the first in the world that is custom-designed to host pastimes such as football, rugby and cricket all in one space with the ability to convert from one mode to another within 48 hours.

view of the sports hub with the skyline in the background

the complex is conceived as a unifying, protective canopy that links all parts of the arrangement through an open, public ‘sports promenade.’ with a dimension of over 310m, it is the largest free spanning dome structure in the world. as a new cultural icon, the concept of the stadium has focused on creating a close relationship with the city by opening the interior seating bowl and enclosure towards the waterfront and the skyline. in massing, the form creates a distinctive silhouette and an identity that complements the nearby indoor stadium.

the roof is the largest free spanning dome structure in the world

in addition, two other sports facilities occupy the plot: the OCBC aquatic center and the OCBC arena. these mid-scale venues have been created to achieve maximum flexibility, enabling them to serve a world-championship sporting match as well as a diverse, everyday, leisure-focused sports game. a ‘social plinth’ is organized over three interconnected levels that generates almost 2km of human scaled built form and landscape. as a counterpoint to the monumental scale of the main stage, this podium envelops the interstitial spaces between the various constructs and plazas across the precinct. on major event days, the domain will attract people to the hub hours before the occasion, where people can spend time at restaurants, food outlets, and external green spaces. on non-event days, these broad zones will motivate exercise and movement from the community.

OCBC square

with a green approach during the design process, the architects intent to create a sustainable and innovative monument that extensively integrates landscape, water systems, and planting. thus, the realms at the shoreline promenade and arrival plazas extend and enhance the city’s accessibility and natural ambience. for comfort, character and further extending this holistic scheme, the stadium incorporates sky terraces with planting with vertical plants to the edge of internal concourse areas. beyond maximizing greenery and passive cooling measures, innovative engineering solutions have been integrated into the project to ensure minimal use of natural resources. the bowl cooling the main field achieves a 60% reduction in energy use when compared to a conventional structure of the same size and typology. the used energy is offset by power harnessed from renewable sources – making this a ‘zero carbon’ cooled stadium. economy of means is a key characteristic of the main dome structure itself, which uses one-third of the steel weight per square meter when compared to other large span constructs of this scale.

view along the sports promenade

pathways and forms of the structural components create spaces that invite visitors to engage in physical activities

moire effect of façade of the active plinth that encompasses sporting, commercial, civic, and community facilities

view of the dome from the water

the forms of the national stadium and existing indoor stadium create a distinctive silhouette 

exploded axonometric diagram of the complex

protective canopy diagram/social plinth 

section through the social plinth

conceptual diagrams

project info:

master plan: DP architects, arup and AECOM
architecture | sports venues: arup associates, and DP architects
architecture | office, retail, leisure: DP architects
engineering: arup
landscape: AECOM

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