The newly completed Xinchang Globular Center in Zhejiang Province, China, designed by Dr. Zhu Peidong and line+ studio, introduces a bold mixed-use ‘sports mall’ model. While the complex houses a 5,000-seat gymnasium, small-ball training halls, commercial spaces, a ballroom, and a 19-story athlete hotel, its most striking feature is the undulating perforated aluminum facade that wraps the entire 120,000 sqm site.
Positioned along Xinchang’s northern development axis near the high-speed rail station, the design reactivates a former industrial area. The perforated panels reference the region’s mountain contours and flowing water, creating a dynamic visual rhythm.
By day, the facade modulates natural light and casts intricate shadows across the interior; by night, it illuminates the skyline, establishing a civic landmark. Large-span trusses and a frame-core-tube structural system support the flexible interior volumes, allowing each hall to accommodate multiple sports.
The building’s elastic grid system enables reconfiguration for competitions: the main gymnasium can host 12 badminton courts, three basketball courts, 14 table tennis courts, or a single tennis court, while the 7,900-sqm training hall includes a basement gym and four-lane pool. A continuous rooftop spans all volumes, featuring a soccer field, running track, and viewing platform accessible via external ramps. 
Retail and dining line a central atrium that connects the north and south entries, ensuring consistent public activity. Since opening, the center has hosted the China Badminton Masters and National Table Tennis Championships, with over 220,000 attendees.
The perforated aluminum facade is both aesthetic and functional, providing solar shading, enhancing ventilation, and creating a distinct night-time identity. Xinchang Globular Center demonstrates how architectural design can merge sports infrastructure, urban activation, and civic landmark status, with the facade serving as the signature feature of this innovative complex.
Source: line+ with additional information added by Glass Balkan
