Site Overview
This project is situated on Liming Road in the Guandu District of Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Previously, the site housed the Olive Tree Hot Spring Hotel, which had been abandoned for an extended period. Public activity spaces in the surrounding area are limited, making the creation of a community venue particularly valuable. The owner aims to provide a place for local residents and children that supports daily basketball activities and educational training.
The design’s practical goal is to maximize the use of this idle land, enhancing the quality of life for community members.
△ Spatial analysis diagram
The venue comprises two courts and a functional area on the second floor. There is a standard basketball court measuring 30 meters by 17 meters, suitable for regular games and casual play. Adjacent to it is a 24-meter by 17-meter stadium, which, though modest in size, accommodates educational training, competitions, and other activities for children.
Additional facilities include an entrance reception, restrooms, dressing rooms, offices, a second-floor leisure stand, and a VIP room — all designed for open and shared use.
The pink court on one side of the stadium
The flow line from the elevator leads directly to the third-floor entrance, allowing access to the front desk area. Strategically placed at the center of the venue, the front desk is backed by changing rooms, restrooms, and offices on the first floor. The viewing area is situated on the second floor, with separate entrances for spectators and athletes to access the competition spaces.
View of the central functional area from the sports field
Design Philosophy
The overall design embraces street and industrial elements, utilizing materials such as concrete, metal panels, gradient acrylic, plywood, and sound-absorbing soft panels to create layered depth within the indoor space. To enhance spatial recognition, bright pink accents and “asexual” light strips are incorporated to emphasize key areas.
The contrast of colors introduces a distinctive geometric and dynamic feel to the environment.
△ Perspective of the central functional area
The abandoned site features a suspended ceiling structure supported by an integrated reinforced concrete slab and prefabricated reinforced concrete columns. The roof truss, sprayed uniformly in black, spans up to 6 meters. Between the columns are soundproof wall panels in various shades of gray, while pink sound-absorbing soft wraps connect the columns to the ceiling, serving both acoustic and protective purposes.
The interior combines black and pink tones with oak flooring, creating a layered spatial experience
The venue’s linear light strips and pink enclosure structures create a strong sense of order
Linear Axis
The design employs linear visual elements to link the ceiling, floor, and walls. Sports stands, social benches, and seating areas for athletes are arranged along these rectangular zones. The vibrant “pink matrix” visually connects the stadium to its surroundings, extending the perception of depth and offering a continuous visual experience.
Linear space design
Acrylic light strips with linear elements, paired with pink-wrapped columns and steel frames, help define the space. This approach visually and physically connects different activity zones within the facility.
Orderly space created by the light strips
The varying lengths of light strips resemble musical notes floating in space, extending outward to energize visitors and amplify movement. This dynamic lighting intensifies competition on the courts and leaves a memorable impression.
The horizontal axis conveys an infinite, expansive vision. Linear proportions dominate the space, with lighting fixtures extending from the front desk to walls, columns, and ceiling trusses. Combined with pink soft wraps on walls and ceilings, this creates delicate rhythmic waves that give the space a living, breathing quality.
Color Palette
The visual scheme combines black and pink to form a bold statement. Black tempers the youthful vibrancy of pink, adding stability and depth. This balance creates a pure and immersive spatial experience that blends energy with sophistication.
View of the central functional area from the sports field
△ VIP Lounge
△ Leisure Stand
The striking contrast between pink and the rugged athletic spirit is unparalleled. In today’s social context, pink is no longer solely associated with girls; it carries traditional feminine qualities like softness and charm. When a strong, gentle athlete embraces this vibrant shade on the energetic court, the resulting contrast offers a unique psychological thrill that no other color can achieve. This blend is at once bold yet nostalgic, modern yet warm.
Material Transparency
Lighting fixtures and wall finishes use custom pink gradient acrylic combined with pink leather anti-collision soft panels to define the space affordably. These materials are layered and overlapped to enrich the enclosure’s visual texture, creating a clear contrast between solid and translucent, tangible and ethereal.
△ Entrance Front Desk
△ Transition area between front desk and stadium
Facade Design
The facade design highlights the spatial and visual experience through the use of pink hues. Lighting enhances the pink gradient, adding richness and transparency to the volume, resulting in a complete and immersive architectural presence.
Visual interplay of pink and black
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Spatial Plan
△ Second Floor Spatial Plan
Project Information
Project Name: Element Sports Kunming Olive Tree First Store
Designer: Pingjie Design
Project Design & Completion Year: 2021 & 2022
Lead Designer and Team: Dong Yan
Project Address: 118 Liming Road, Guandu District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
Building Area: 1000 square meters
Photography Credit: Wang Yixiang
Partner: Kunming Shuoyue Advertising Co., Ltd
Client: Kunming Yueti Sports Culture Co., Ltd
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