The swimming pool is located near the east gate of Southeast University’s Kowloon Lake campus, positioned on the north side of the Kowloon Lake Sports Center. This facility marks the university’s first indoor swimming venue. Given the spacious layout of the Jiulonghu campus and the typically large scale of its sports buildings, the design incorporates continuous circular arches to break up the structure into smaller, approachable segments, reducing any sense of alienation from its volume.
The building’s curved forms resemble a flower, created by weaving together seven repeated arches that give it a lively and dynamic appearance. Notably, the building lacks a conventional roof; instead, its roof and walls are seamlessly integrated into a single unified structure.
Inside, the swimming pool’s space is defined by multiple curved surfaces that create a rhythmic flow. The interplay of moving water, active swimmers, and static architecture, combined with the contrast between the gray concrete and the blue water, enhances the sense of place. Sunlight filters through louvers, casting geometric shadows that add to the building’s dynamic atmosphere.
The concrete arches not only fulfill structural and mechanical requirements but also shape the building’s distinctive form. The facade features extensive floor-to-ceiling glass, fostering a vibrant connection between the interior activities and the outside environment.
The Southeast University Swimming Pool primarily serves as a campus venue for swimming and fitness training. The building’s rectangular floor plan houses a standard 20 by 50-meter pool. Water circulation equipment and machinery are located underground to optimize space. The interior layout follows a conventional sports arena design: the first floor contains changing rooms and the pool, while the second floor accommodates a gym and classrooms.
During construction, the swimming pool was built using cast-in-place concrete, requiring extensive manual prefabrication of formwork. Scaffolding was erected across the entire site, reaching heights over ten meters and covering an area of 120 by 40 meters. Pouring the curved arches in mid-air presented a unique challenge, as each concrete arch intersects with others at specific points. Excess concrete was “sheared” to form natural arch bottoms—an effect impossible to achieve through assembly alone.
This design, featuring seven continuous concrete curved arches, addresses two main construction challenges: span and humidity. A steel structure would require a 2-meter-high beam to cover the 40-meter span, whereas concrete curved arches effectively meet structural demands. Additionally, the humid environment of the swimming pool can corrode metal over time, but concrete is water-resistant. The ceiling has no lighting fixtures; instead, lights are installed along the sides. The concrete surfaces remain unpainted and undecorated, showcasing the raw structure and materials in their purest form.
The exterior is clad in red ceramic tiles, dry-hung and fired at 1200°C using advanced technology. These tiles are designed to last 150 years without replacement, promoting sustainability. The tile dimensions resemble bricks, arranged in a staggered pattern that contrasts with the massive concrete surfaces, highlighting a handcrafted aesthetic. All materials retain their original colors without artificial decoration, allowing the structure to embody the building itself.
This approach reduces future maintenance costs and emphasizes that good architecture need not be extravagant or costly; instead, it should embrace simplicity and authenticity.
△ Renderings
△ Rendering
△ Rendering
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Base Schematic Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Underground Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Exploded Diagram
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Detailed Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Zhou Qi Studio
Area: 5650 m²
Project Year: 2022
Manufacturers: Nanjing Zhonglian Concrete Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Subote New Materials Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Jinjiu Technology New Materials Co., Ltd.
Lead Architect: Zhou Qi
Design Team: Yang Jun, Yang Wenjun, Hu Die, Fu Xiuzhang (Architectural Acoustics), Guo Yangbo (Structure), Li Xiang (Electrical), Zhang Benlin (HVAC), Ma Zhihu (Water Supply and Drainage), Zang Chuanguo (Intelligence)
Electrical & HVAC: Southeast University Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Structural Design: Southeast University Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Construction: Nanjing Hongya Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Location: Nanjing
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