This project is situated within Linping Sports Park in Hangzhou and is designed to offer public service facilities and recreational spaces for the community. As a rare large-scale open park focused on ecological running amidst a densely populated city, the park features vibrant running tracks and expansive lawns that create a simple yet atmospheric landscape.
The landscape surrounding the rest station mainly consists of lawns and scattered trees. Without the usual restrictions of traditional projects that limit sunlight access, the challenge was how to integrate a compact 145-square-meter rest station harmoniously into this open natural setting. This presented an ideal yet complex design opportunity for the architects, who initially found it difficult to determine the best approach.
After careful consideration, it became clear that there is a significant scale difference between the small rest station and the vast sports park. Entering the enclosed rest station from the open park could feel rigid and uninspiring. Therefore, the goal was to have the rest station blend seamlessly with nature both in form and spatial experience, creating a flexible connection between the two.
Concept Development
The design employs a semi-transparent white metal mesh to enclose a designated area, creating a shelter that is visually open to nature yet subtly separated. The rest station’s functions are divided into three main volumes: men’s restroom, women’s restroom, and a third toilet, which are arranged within this space.
Within the fenced area, the three building volumes are arranged to form an open courtyard. This courtyard serves as a ‘shelter’ — a welcoming space for athletes to rest and recharge, while also acting as a transitional zone that adjusts scale before entering the rest station.
The fence’s free-form design reflects the natural landscape of the park, while the buildings’ rectangular shapes accommodate functional needs. The spaces created between the curved fence and the rectangular volumes form a series of corner courtyards, which connect the building’s interior functions with the surrounding nature, offering an immersive experience.
The lush vegetation around the rest station enhances the experience. We opened the fence at key spots where visitors frequently gather, such as near washbasins and rest areas, allowing the park’s landscape to flow into the building and merge with the small courtyards inside. This creates a fascinating interplay of overlapping landscapes across different dimensions.
Technical Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Sectional Perspective
Project Information
Project type: Rest stop
Location: Hangzhou, China
Architectural Design: Architectural Design
Area: 145m²
Year: 2020
Manufacturers: Three Trees, Shanghai Xinsilu Metal Products Co., Ltd., Xinyi Glass
Lead Architects: Yin Jiandong and Zhu Zhenyi
Architectural Designers: Peng Yonglei and Ni Fangwen
Structural Designer: Lu Jun
Equipment Design: Yang Yingchun (plumbing), Tang Lin (electrical), Du Chengkai (HVAC)
Interior Designers: Zhu Zhenyi and Zhu Yilun
Curtain Wall Design: Hanjia Design Group Co., Ltd
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