We're calling it: the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre is Guangzhou's most beautiful building.
In the works since 2023, this behemoth by Zaha Hadid Architects made its grand opening on December 5. The 70-hectare plot includes a 60,000 seat stadium, 20,000-seat arena, and 4,000-seat aquatics facility within a sprawling, lush public park, complete with outdoor training pitches and tracks as well as accommodation for athletes.
Located on the gorgeous and historic Pearl River in the southern part of Guangzhou's Nansha District, the design draws from the region's maritime history. Its sweeping curves emulate the hulls of traditional Song Dynasty ships, while vertical louvres cool and shade the building in Guangzhou's subtropical climate.
It also takes inspiration from local Lingnan architecture, with sheltered areas to passively cool and ventilate buildings in the summer. The wetlands surrounding the venue are designed to aid in flood prevention and manage excess water caused by sea-level changes, helping future-proof it against climate change.
For those in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay area, this sports centre is set to become the top destination for national and international sporting events as well as cultural performances. Four sold-out concerts are set to take place at the venue and there's more sure to come – with major cultural events such as the Guangzhou Strawberry Music Festival, the Head in the Clouds music and arts festival, the SoNTILLa Sandilla Music Festival, and the GBA Lantern Fair set to take place in Nansha.
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