Location: Zhengzhou, China.

Architect: W&R Group.

Jianye Football Town is a sports-themed town located in the Cherry Valley Scenic Area in Erqi District, Zhengzhou. The town integrates natural scenery, sports, recreation, and culture. The construction plan includes a Jianye Football Town Tourist Center of approximately 3000m2 at the main entrance to the football town. The tourist center will serve as the reception and exhibition space for the entire football town. The design of the tourist center is inspired by the wind-accumulated landform of the local loess gullies. The building features an array of high and low walls that resemble continuous hills growing out of the loess platform. The design aims to blend perfectly with the local environment while presenting a strong visual impact and shock. The building is free of columns, and box shear walls are used as the main load-bearing structure to support the steel floors and roof trusses. The facade of the building uses rammed earth, which pays respect to the region and the natural environment. The building is the tallest hand-built rammed earth building in the world and is a practice that perfectly combines architectural functions, natural features, regional culture, and contemporary aesthetics. The integration of the building with the environment brings a power that comes from the magical yellow land and the great nature. It also expresses the corporate culture and sportsmanship that Jianye wants to convey. The tourist center represents the image of the football town and is unique, eye-catching, and unforgettable.

Photo credit: Yijie HU.