Taihu Water Sports Center – Hanbi Xiaozhu

 

China | Suzhou

 

CHINA | SUZHOU

 

Hanbi Xiaozhu | Taihu Resort Area Water Sports Center

 

HAN BI XIAOZHU | TAIHU RESORT AQUATICS CENTRE

 

Basic Overview

 

The project site is located within the Suzhou Wuzhong Taihu Resort, serving as the construction site for the Wuzhong Taihu Resort Water Sports Center—Hanbi Xiaozhu. To the southeast, it adjoins Lake Tai; to the west, it neighbors the Taihu ShuiXing Yacht Club; and to the north, it lies close to the resort’s dedicated tourist‑service road.

 

 

The city boasts convenient transportation, natural water features, and abundant environmental resources, and will be developed into a premier watersports center in the traditional Suzhou style, renowned for its stunning scenery.

 

Functional nature

 

 

The intended use of this project is as ancillary facilities for water-based activities, including kayaking and windsurfing. The building has a maximum of two above-ground floors, with the basement level primarily serving as an underground parking garage and housing ancillary facilities.

 

 

The main design features include: a club serving as the water sports command center; a press conference center; a VIP lounge; staff and athlete dining facilities; staff dormitories; an equipment maintenance warehouse; a medical emergency response center; and an athlete preparation and rest area, among others.

 

Design Positioning and Guiding Principles

 

Blue bricks and dark-tiled roofs, wooden doors with bronze locks, little bridges over flowing streams, and swaying tree shadows—such is the Chinese courtyard of my memories.

 

This design seamlessly integrates natural landscapes with the traditional architectural style of Suzhou, and Taking the principle of prioritizing nature in environmental protection as its starting point, the architectural space is planned while preserving the existing conditions of the waterways within the site as much as possible, thereby integrating the natural environment, built spaces, and diverse functions in a cohesive manner.

 

 

The sports activities offered at this center—such as non-polluting kayaking and windsurfing—cause absolutely no pollution or adverse impact on Taihu Lake’s natural resources.

 

Planning and Design Principles

 

 

Heavenly timing — Suzhou enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, with mild, spring-like weather for most of the year and abundant rainfall. It is an ideal location for water sports.

 

Geographical advantage — The Taihu Resort Area in Wuzhong District, Suzhou, boasts abundant water resources, lush vegetation, and stunning scenery.

 

Humanity —The architectural style adheres to the traditional Suzhou aesthetic, aiming to celebrate Suzhou’s cultural heritage while maintaining harmony with the surrounding environment.

 

Integrative — The sports center, drawing on the traditional techniques of Suzhou gardens, employs its architecture and internal water features to enclose a series of diverse landscape courtyards and water‑based spaces, large and small. Architecture and landscape mutually inform and interpenetrate one another, achieving a seamless integration in which every corner offers a view and every space reveals glimpses of the surrounding scenery.

 

Reasonableness — By employing cutting-edge design techniques, we have fully addressed the traditional architectural factors that hinder thermal insulation and energy efficiency, thereby preserving the façade’s classic aesthetic while meeting contemporary demands for leisure and recreation.

 

Privacy — The Water Sports Center employs a seamless integration of perimeter walls and landscaped gardens to shield the facility from the surrounding noise and commotion. Moreover, the array of courtyards, both large and small, within the “center” not only enhances the visual appeal of the landscape but also delineates distinct building volumes and functional zones, ensuring they operate independently without interference.

 

 

Functional Layout

 

The kayak and windsurfing club closest to the entrance As a window for people to learn about water sports Our primary customers are water sports enthusiasts and the general public with an interest in water sports.

 

 

To the south of the club lies the Water Sports Command Center and the Press Center.

 

These two features are configured here because: first, here... Transportation is extremely convenient, facilitating the work of the event organizing committee and the press release committee. And a podium was set up in the “Center” Central Lake View; of course, It can also serve as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the event. The VIP lounge is also located on the lakeside, offering a central view of the lake.

 

To the west of the club is a dining hall for athletes and staff, which facilitates meal delivery during competitions and provides a convenient dining option for internal personnel.

 

 

The employee dormitory area is conveniently located right next to the staff cafeteria, demonstrating a high degree of user-friendly design.

 

On the outermost section of the “center” facing Taihu Lake, we have installed only a protective forest belt and a few removable floating docks. It has preserved the original wetland landscape to the greatest extent possible, safeguarding Taihu Lake’s native ecological resources. Visitors seeking leisure, recreation, or competition can fully savor the lake’s natural beauty.

 

Overall Layout

 

A primary entrance/exit will be located on the northeast side of the site, adjacent to the resort’s dedicated tourist‑route highway, serving guests and members of the organizing committee. A secondary entrance/exit is planned on the northwest side of the site, catering to athletes.

 

The design makes full use of the surrounding geographical context, employs a well‑planned layout, and maximizes the efficient utilization of land resources. By integrating environmental considerations, transportation networks, and architectural forms, it creates a coherent and well‑rounded built environment. Within the site, each building is arranged in a courtyard‑style enclosure, with the courtyards interconnected to form larger, cohesive clusters that are complemented by carefully orchestrated landscape elements.

 

 

The master plan ensures a hierarchical, interconnected arrangement of residential clusters, with each courtyard remaining relatively independent yet cohesive.

 

The flexible arrangement fully embodies the Suzhou garden’s characteristic of seamlessly connecting courtyards and gardens, with each scene subtly leading into the next—unbroken yet distinct, revealing a hidden world of its own.

 

Monolithic design

 

The architecture is based on Primarily in the traditional Suzhou style, enhanced with modern, cutting-edge techniques, It perfectly embodies the tradition and practicality of architecture.

 

The buildings are predominantly single-story, with a few structures rising to two stories in certain areas. The eave height does not exceed 8 meters. Exterior wall decoration is chiefly characterized by stone carvings and woodwork.

 

Even in the detailing of doors, windows, and railings—such as their carved patterns—the design strives to emulate traditional Suzhou techniques.

 

 

Roof treatment techniques It also sought to emulate the Soviet‑style façade as closely as possible, employing modern techniques such as curved steel, I‑beams finished with wood‑grain paint, and concrete topped with tiled cladding. This not only gives the exterior a look that is largely indistinguishable from traditional architecture but also significantly enhances the building’s functionality and cost‑effectiveness.

 

 

 

Pier Design

 

This project involves water sports facilities and is located within the Taihu Scenic Area; therefore, the design and construction of the marina are of paramount importance. Flexibility and minimizing the consumption of Taihu’s natural resources are our top priorities.

 

Located on the northeast side of the base, the welcome pier primarily accommodates yachts that shuttle guests and certain VIPs’ private vessels, and can be freely configured and assembled to suit varying numbers of guests and vessels.

 

At the athlete‑only pier on the southwest side of the base, we have opted entirely for modular floating docks—both to ensure flexibility and to minimize the footprint on Taihu Lake’s resources.

 

Partial construction drawings

 

 

 

Project Information

 

Planned land area: 32,000㎡

Total Building Area: 16,534.66㎡

Building Footprint: 4,780.80

Floor Area Ratio: 0.299

Green space ratio: 40%

Project Developer: Suzhou Taihu Xintiandi Tourism Development Co., Ltd.

Construction Contractor: Suzhou Zhongyuan Construction & Development Co., Ltd.

Project Address: No. 8, Hubin Road, Taihu National Tourism Resort, Suzhou