LYCS Architecture has completed the Hushan Swimming Center in Jiangshan, China, marking the city's first professional-grade aquatic facility capable of hosting national Class B swimming competitions. The 14,244-square-meter complex features both competition and training pools, designed to serve professional events as well as daily public use. Located at the base of Hushan (Tiger Mountain) and overlooking Jiangshan Port, the facility represents a significant milestone in the region's sports infrastructure development.
The swimming center forms part of a comprehensive sports complex that includes a 4,000-seat gymnasium and a 3,000-seat stadium, creating what planners call a "one stadium, two arenas" system. This configuration makes Jiangshan the first county-level city in Quzhou to achieve this benchmark in public sports development. The broader Hushan Sports Park establishes the city as a regional hub for athletic competitions and community recreation.
Drawing inspiration from the local landscape, LYCS Architecture developed an architectural language based on the theme of "river and mountain." The building's form responds directly to the surrounding terrain through fluid, undulating surfaces that mirror the natural topography. This design approach integrates the facility seamlessly into its mountain and waterfront setting while creating a distinctive civic landmark.
The center houses two regulation 50-meter pools: an eight-lane competition pool and a six-lane training pool, both with a standardized depth of two meters. The facility's circulation system employs a dual-ground-level design that strategically separates different user groups. During daily operations, athletes and spectators follow separate pathways, while competition events further divide audiences, athletes, media personnel, and VIP guests to optimize operational efficiency and enhance the user experience.
The building's most striking feature is its parametrically designed facade, composed of 2,943 uniquely fabricated metal panels arranged in a scale-like pattern. Each folded plate is positioned to interact dynamically with natural light and shadows, creating a surface that references both flowing water and mountainous terrain. The parametric modeling process enabled a seamless digital-to-construction workflow, from initial geometry coding through modular on-site assembly.
Architecturally, the building deliberately avoids symmetrical composition, instead employing smooth transitions between horizontal, sloped, and vertical surfaces. A continuous roof structure connects the two primary halls, creating a semi-open interstitial space that functions as a public threshold and gathering area. The main spectator entrance features an inward-folding roof form and elevated platform, emphasizing the arrival sequence and providing additional opportunities for community interaction.
Inside the facility, exposed roof trusses span up to 48 meters, clearly expressing the building's structural logic and impressive scale. Interior finishes include modular wall and ceiling treatments, colored metal panels, and strategically placed perforated surfaces that create a functional yet distinctive environment. Retractable partitions throughout the space allow for spatial flexibility, supporting both strict competition requirements and diverse community activities.
The preserved base level incorporates a public lobby, multipurpose auditorium, and rooftop garden, reinforcing the building's role as a community anchor beyond its primary function as a sports facility. These civic amenities integrate competition infrastructure with educational and public functions, establishing a framework that LYCS Architecture believes can serve as a model for multifunctional development in mid-sized cities.
The design team emphasizes that the Hushan Swimming Center functions as both a high-performance sports facility and an accessible civic space. By combining professional competition infrastructure with educational amenities and public functions, the project addresses contemporary demands for adaptability, operational efficiency, and cultural resonance while maintaining close alignment with the surrounding landscape.
