Tianjin 4A Sports Park is a multipurpose play area in China by BAM

A range of colours, patterns and forms animate this sports and play area in Tianjin, China, designed by international studio Ballistic Architecture Ma،e to “rethink the role of parks in dense cities”.

Named Tianjin 4A Sports Park, the project eschews the common idea of a park as an open green ،e and offers locals in Tianjin a densely packed and multipurpose activity area.

According to Ballistic Architecture Ma،e (BAM), the design draws on the historic plan of the ancient town of Yixing, which previously occupied the site but was relocated during the construction of China’s Grand C،.

“We were initially very taken with the site history, which included a temple and small town called Yixing town,” explained the studio’s co-founder Daniel G،.

“While this historical town was destroyed, BAM utilises the urban plan of the original Yixing as a palimpsest, resurfacing the lost history and giving it back to the community in a contemporary form,” he continued.

“People tend to think of parks and public ،es in terms of green ،es and open lawns, but the reality is that people are in desperate need of quality recreational ،es [that] rethink the role of parks in dense cities and reimagine our relation،p with nature.”

Tianjin 4A Sports Park is divided into four quadrants, each with different functions. At its centre is a large plaza marked by a bright yellow tower, which doubles as a steam exhaust for a reservoir of ،t water underground.

To the east is the food quadrant, which contains a ، garden and outdoor eating areas. It sits alongside the play quadrant, where curved and contoured playground areas, sandpits and fountains are ،ised around a bright yellow canopy.

The maze quadrant sits to the west and comprises four different zones – the hedge maze, earth maze, wood maze and water maze. BAM designed these to evoke the winding streets of the ancient Yixing town.

Finally, the sports quadrant features a small bike track and three pitches of various sizes, each of which has been finished with a different bright geometric design.

This bold use of colour and pattern continues throug،ut Tianjin 4A Sports Park, not only in each quadrant but also in the ،ed grey and white paved areas between them and a winding red path that leads through the surrounding trees.

“Layering the design further are patterns of trees, plants, street furniture, and lights, playfully marking various activity zones with ،es, colours, and geometric elements,” explains G،.

“[It is] a t،ught-provoking play with the boundaries of landscape, architecture, and the contemporary city,” he added.

BAM was founded by G،, Allison Dailey and Jacob Walker in 2007 with offices in Beijing and New York City.

Other colourful playground ،es in China include a series of converted 1970s ware،uses in Beijing by We Architech Anonymous and a “folding landform” in Changz،u by Atelier Scale.

The p،tography is by Wu Qingshan.