Ordos Smart Sports Park by PLAT ASIA

Ordos Smart Sports Park is a major public space transformation project designed by PLAT ASIA. Located in the Kangbashi District of Ordos, China, the project converts the existing “Shijie” Urban Square — a 19.7-hectare open-edge plaza — into a vibrant, inclusive smart sports park that serves residents of all ages. The square sits at a critical location surrounded by residential zones, office buildings, schools, and an exhibition center, enjoying excellent accessibility and visibility.

Before its redesign, the square featured only scattered amenities and a few gate ball courts. Its lack of coherent planning, professional sports infrastructure, and adequate service spaces made it underused and unwelcoming despite its scale and centrality. PLAT ASIA was commissioned to reimagine the site, creating a place that could support a healthier lifestyle for the local population and maximize the potential of this key piece of urban land.

Drawing Inspiration from Ordos’ Landscape

The design concept began with a close reading of the land fabric of Ordos, a region defined by its vast deserts, steppes, and river systems. Principal designer Bian Baoyang translated this distinctive natural context into spatial strategies for the park. The micro-topography takes inspiration from the Kubuqi and Mu Us Deserts, whose dunes are formed by prevailing northwest winds, creating slopes that rise toward the southeast. These desert-like forms are reinterpreted as gentle earth mounds and undulations within the park, subtly guiding circulation and framing views.

The background planting strategy draws from the character of Ordos’ steppe, using native grass species to evoke the expansive, windswept landscape. The circulation system was informed by the dynamic curves of the Hongliu River and the Yellow River, resulting in a looping path network that creates a sense of rhythm and discovery as users move through the space. Resting “islands” punctuate this path, providing moments for pause, social interaction, and family gatherings.

An All-Ages, All-Seasons Park

A key goal of the design was to create a park that is inclusive for all age groups and adaptable to a wide range of activities. The blue circular jogging track, which symbolizes both the sky and river reflections of Ordos, forms the primary organizing element. Along this loop, five major activity zones are distributed:

• Comprehensive Ball Courts: Located in the northwest open area, these facilities include football pitches for 5- and 7-a-side games, basketball, tennis, badminton, and table tennis courts. This zone supports both casual recreation and organized competitions.

• Children’s Square: Placed at the heart of the park, this zone integrates a playground with the park’s management and service center.

• Youth Cycling Field: A dedicated track for teenagers to practice biking safely within the park.

• Elderly Exercise Zone: Outdoor fitness equipment and sheltered areas are designed to encourage regular activity among older residents.

• Seasonal Activity Area: The site’s alkaline soil area, unsuitable for planting, is converted into a sand play area in summer and a skating track in winter, maximizing year-round use.

A new water feature and gesture-based interactive fountain bring sensory delight and cooling relief during the warmer months, further activating the park.

Architecture and Panoramic Views

At the center of the park stands a new architectural structure that merges a management service building with the children’s playground. Its rooftop doubles as an observation deck, offering panoramic views of both the park and the city beyond. The façade of the building is playful, incorporating climbing and recreational elements for children, while its semi-open corridors and shaded façades encourage interaction and visual connection between interior and exterior spaces.

The ground floor contains essential amenities, including offices, a café, a sports shop, and restrooms, ensuring convenience and extended usability for visitors.

Ecological and Landscape Strategy

The design preserves the existing tall trees while selectively clearing underbrush to create a more open and visually connected landscape. This improves sightlines, enhances perceived safety, and encourages users to explore the park. New native species — such as Populus alba, Pinus sylvestris, and Salix matsudana — were planted to strengthen the local ecosystem and provide seasonal variety.

Membrane structure pavilions are strategically placed along pathways to provide shaded rest points. Their sweeping, dune-like rooflines echo the desert topography, creating a visual language that ties the built elements back to Ordos’ natural landscape.

Smart Systems for a Future-Oriented Park

As its name suggests, Ordos Smart Sports Park integrates intelligent technology to enhance user experience and ensure efficient operation. The park features a smart management platform, sensor-based lighting, real-time jogging loop data monitoring, interactive navigation systems, solar-powered charging stations, and water purification infrastructure.

These systems not only improve convenience and safety but also align with sustainability goals by optimizing energy use and promoting water recycling through permeable surfaces and marshland collection areas.

A New Benchmark for Urban Parks

Since opening in August 2023, Ordos Smart Sports Park has quickly become a beloved destination, attracting a diverse mix of visitors. The children’s playground is consistently active, while the football pitches have already hosted professional matches, establishing the park as a local sports hub. Despite operating under a strict budget, PLAT ASIA and its collaborators delivered a design that transforms an underutilized square into a dynamic urban green space — one that encourages active living, strengthens community bonds, and celebrates the unique landscape identity of Ordos.

Photography: Holi Landscape Photography