Gold Landscape Planning and Garden Design · 2020
Sorec Horse Park Grandstand
by Vicky Chan
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Landscape Planning and Garden Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Avoid Obvious Architects
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 55,803
- Verification code 7A5C9DEC6B · Verify this award
About Sorec Horse Park Grandstand
Sorec Horse Park is a horse racing park with a grandstand in Rabat, Morocco, covering 63,750 square meters. The twisted form of the grandstand was inspired by horse movement and responds to sunlight and views. A repetitive structural system lets the outer skin twist without custom made parts, keeping construction costs reasonable. The perforated skin and the self shaded canopy reduce heat gain and glare. Materials are sourced locally in Morocco. The layout separates guests, visitors and jockeys, while the horse track stays visible from the central green space.
The Sorec Horse Park Grandstand by Vicky Chan represents a compelling synthesis of contemporary structural expressionism and contextual sensitivity within the genre of sports and spectator architecture, demonstrating how large-scale public venues can achieve both functional excellence and iconic formal presence. The design appears to draw upon traditions of modern cantilevered architecture while introducing a distinctive sectional strategy wherein the building's profile evokes both the dynamic energy of equestrian movement and the protective gesture of a sheltering canopy. The employment of timber as the primary cladding material suggests an intentional dialogue with natural material traditions and sustainable design philosophies, the warm tones of the wood establishing visual harmony with the surrounding landscape while the regular rhythm of horizontal louvers creates a sophisticated play of light and shadow across the expansive facade. The structural system, boldly expressed through the diagonal steel members visible beneath the cantilevered volume, celebrates the honesty of tectonic forces while achieving a visual lightness that belies the considerable mass being supported. One might observe how the triangular geometry creates multiple experiential conditions: the compressed entry zone at the low edge, the expansive interior volume suggested beneath the rising roof plane, and the dramatic apex that marks the building's presence against the sky. The visualization captures the architecture at a particularly evocative moment, with golden hour light transforming the timber surfaces into a luminous field that seems to radiate warmth toward the gathering visitors below. The relationship between building and ground plane merits attention, with the plaza extending outward as an activated public space that encourages gathering and movement while the architecture rises as a protective backdrop. How might the experience of approaching this form, with its progressive revelation of scale and shelter, prepare visitors for the spectacle of equestrian performance within?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Natural elements crafted the architecture to create a compact building that connects horse, people and nature. The site is organized to allow people to enjoy horse track as a park while seeing the race in the backdrop. The placement of the building and the car park allow the central green space to be maximized. The circulation separates better, VIP, park visitors and jockey, but places of interests like the presentation round and horse walking path will connect everything together.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 63,750 m2
- Tags
- horse park, landscape, morocco
- Production Technology
- Twisted form is created using repetitive structure. Skylight and view was cut out from the structure to allow sunlight, view and air circulation. Solar sensors are deployed to create multiple lighting zone to save electricity.
- Design Challenge
- The separation of prestige guests, regular guests, horses and jockey is very critical for the operation. Our intent is to create circulation to separate them while leaving out moments for them to appreciate one another. View of horses will be visible in almost all corners so that children to prestige guests will all get the excitement of horse racing.
- Project Duration
- Started in March 2019 in Rabat, Morocco
- Operation Flow
- The interior of the space is organized to allow exclusive and inclusive experiences. Vip, Public and Jockey have a clear zoning in section. The canopy is designed to be self shaded so that the grand stand won’t receive glaring condition. The skin is perforated at 5 percent to allow sun light into the space in a dramatic way, while reducing heat gain to its minimum. Natural circulation occurs throughout the ground floor and the circulation cavity to take advantage of the natural breeze coming from the ocean. Smart lighting sensors work with the skin to provide comfortable lighting while reducing energy to its lowest consumption.
- Research
- We love into the people of Rabat and understand what sport and horse meant to their culture. Extracting from the local opinion, we designed a family friendly park that allow people to celebrate their Arabic culture of horse. It is filled with greenery, shading, fun and excitement for a family visit.
- Inspiration
- The twisted form was inspired by horse movement but also reacts to the solar condition and view optimization. It is both emotional and scientific. The use of repetitive trust system allow the overall skin to twist without producing custom made items to keep construction cost reasonable. The materials are locally sources in morocco to keep a low carbon footprint while allowing to building to fit nicely into Rabat’s context.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Avoid Obvious Architects
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