Greenasium is a gym and sports space project located in the middle of an up-and-coming North Kaohsiung area where tall housings and skyscrapers inevitably occupied the promising spaces. Sitting diagonally to a park, the project site takes advantage of forming a green aisle and creates a better workout environment both mentally and physically.
This white architecture piqued the interest of its users because of its shape rather than its grandiose decorations. With layers of different organic shapes that shield each fitness room from direct sunlight, the latter are connected vertically and horizontally through trees and flowerbeds. Whether you are parking your car in the basement, swimming in the outdoor pool, or doing yoga on the second floor there is a glimpse of green around you that not only immerses people in nature but also protects their privacy from the outside. From the basement to the top, there are spaces that run vertically through the building for better air circulation and green penetration.
The design aims to decrease the occupied area and lower the architecture height. We maximize the exercising area with long diagonal building units, which occupy the least space on site to create extra space for more planting. The lower architectural building creates a height difference in this block which allows wind to travel. In a hot, humid tropical city, we lower the humidity level by creating a well-functioning ventilation and circulation system. We design patios and spacing between buildings for traveling winds to form a circulation cycle with the air indoors, freshening all wasted air by bringing it out from the top. The patios, spacing, and large floor-to-ceiling windows installed on the north and south sides of the building encourage one to focus on the outside view without being disturbed by sun exposure. The east and west sides of the building limit its number of windows, with the exception of the east outdoor swimming pool. The swimming pool and a billiard court are located on the east side of the gym, warming the outdoor pool water with the morning sunlight and sanitizing the water with heat and fresh air to avoid chemical consumption and bacteria growth. The billiard court has several black levitating boards as visual extension and sunlight coverage, while the white levitating boards beside the swimming pool provide coverage for noon swimmers.
The architecture is separated into two main sections: the gym and the stadium. The swimming pool and gym are on the northeast, while the stadium is on the west. The stadium contains a badminton court on the ground level and a basketball court on the first. The arc of the cylinder architecture is designed to improve the ventilation of the high-activity space with spectators’ seats at the edge of the stadium. The cold fresh air from the pool and plants of the lower level ascended to the stadium top through the gap of the seats, forming a buoyancy effect with the top air, which was heated by a black block specifically designed to absorb the sun exposure.
In this sports center project, we use stairs to connect each component, using them as emergency exits, and a chance to improve ventilation through the stair gaps. With cars and pedestrian passages separated, we ensure a safe workout area for all ages to enjoy and relax.
Category:Green ArchitectureYear:2025Location: Kaohsiung, TaiwanArchitects:Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design InstituteLead Architect:Keng-Fu LoClient:PrivateImages:Courtesy of the Architects
