Tag: leisure | ArchDaily

Leisure Architecture: 13 Projects Shaping Togetherness Across Generations

Daniela Andino — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Leisure spaces are often where different generations cross paths. Without formal programs or assigned roles, they allow people to move, pause, and remain together, each engaging space in their own way. In a built environment increasingly shaped by specialization and separation, these shared spatial grounds have become less common, giving leisure-oriented architecture a renewed relevance.

Why Sit by the Dock of the Bay? Designing Thresholds to the Water

Olivia Poston — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Boat docks and harbors are liminal spaces where the shore marks the meeting of land and water, and serve as a space for the convergence of culture, industry, and community. For those who work at sea, from commercial fishers to marine freight operators, the dock is a threshold between labor and rest, between oceanic uncertainty and terrestrial stability. For others, the dock serves as a gateway to recreation, sport, and adventure, accommodating everything from rowing clubs to family sailing trips. And for many who never board a vessel, the dock offers a powerful connection to the marine environment where one can pause, observe, and engage with the rhythmic tides.

Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils Design of Oystra Mixed-Use Development in the United Arab Emirates

Reyyan Dogan — Wed, 14 May 2025 06:30:00 +0000

Oystra, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a 128,000-square-metre seafront development located on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, that comprises 950 residential units, a comprehensive range of shopping, dining, and leisure amenities. Ras Al Khaimah, one of the UAE's fastest-growing emirates, is projected to see a 55% increase in its population by 2030, driving the need for an additional 45,000 homes. The emirate's tourism sector is also experiencing significant growth, with the number of visitors expected to rise to 3.5 million annually by 2030, up from 100,000 in 2013.

Desert Island Digs: Retreats and Resorts With Water All Around

James Wormald — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:30:00 +0000

When designing and building an island getaway paradise there are certain creature comforts expected by even the most back-to-basics visitor, to find peace and comfort in an inaccessible environment – like food, shelter, clean water, and a way to contact the mainland – but doing so requires a careful balance between making these least-visited places on Earth both habitable and hospitable, without destroying them or their serenity in the process.

Heatherwick Studio and Barcode Architects Reveal the Design of Utrecht’s New City Center Hub

Maria-Cristina Florian — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:30:00 +0000

Heatherwick Studio and Barcode Architects have been selected to design a new hub for culture, work and leisure in the Jaarbeursplein central square in Utrecht, Netherlands. The project aims to respond to the city’s diverse population and to bring a sense of warmth and fun to the square, according to the architects. Nicknamed Oopen, the building’s design integrates a colorful collection of cylinders that stand out against the backdrop of the neighborhood. The team has partnered with Edge, a sustainable real estate development company, to help bring the vision to life. Construction is set to start in 2025 and the building will be delivered in 2028.

Aedas Unveils the Design of the Hangzhou Yun He Wan International Tourism and Leisure Complex in China

Dima Stouhi — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 06:30:00 +0000

Aedas has unveiled the design of the Hangzhou Yun He Wan International Tourism and Leisure Complex in Hangzhou, China. Located in the southern area of the Grand Canal New Town in the Gongshu District of Hangzhou, the site is the first phase of a larger project, starting off as a vibrant international tourism and leisure complex that highlights the waterfront of Yun He Wan and the historical remains of the nearby industrial pier.

RCR Arquitectes to Design Nature-Inspired Signature Residences at the Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort

Dima Stouhi — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Inspired by the colors and textures of the surrounding environment, Pritzker Prize winners RCR Architectes have translated the Algarve's landscape into new residences and facilities at the Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort. A total of 37 new signature apartments and luxury villas are currently under construction, with completion due dates expected between summer 2021 and 2022.

Bird's Eye Gallery: Amusement Parks

Daily Overview — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Seeing the Earth from a great distance has been proven to stimulate awe, increase the desire to collaborate, and foster long-term thinking. Daily Overview aims to inspire these feelings — commonly referred to as the Overview Effect — through their imagery, products, and collaborations. By embracing the perspective that comes from this vantage point, the team believes they can stimulate a new awareness that will lead to a better future for our one and only home. Check out Daily Overview's Gallery of Amusement Parks and follow the team's work on their Instagram.

LOLA, L+CC, and Taller Architects Design "Romantic" Forest Trail for Forgotten Sports in Shenzhen

Niall Patrick Walsh — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 12:00:00 +0000

LOLA Landscape Architects, Taller Architects, and L+CC have released images of their competition-winning design for a 600-hectare forest and sports park in Guang Ming, Shenzhen, China. Commissioned in response to the exploding technology industry in the Shenzhen metropolitan area, the park will place an emphasis on health, sports, and nature to offer an ecological counterpoint to dense urban surroundings.

OOPEAA Design Modular Floating Pool for Urban Waterfronts

Niall Patrick Walsh — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 12:00:00 +0000

OOPEAA (Office for Peripheral Architecture) has won an invited competition for the design of the Allas Sea Pool Family in Helsinki, Finland. Constructed on floating platforms, and designed as a modular, flexible, adjustable system, the Allas Sea Pool Family is intended to be a new global typology for coastal sites, where building on land is not feasible.

SOM Unveils Images of Chicago Office Tower With Five-Story Open-Air Deck

Niall Patrick Walsh — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:05:00 +0000

Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) have unveiled new images of their proposed 18-story office tower in the trendy Fulton Market area of Chicago. “The Porch,” situated on 330 North Green, will feature a five-story open-air deck, and series of luxury amenities to support the new office environment.

El Pulté Equestrian Country Club / DARCON Taller de Arquitectura

Karen Valenzuela — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The Pulté is a residential urbanization complex located over a forested mountain at the edge of the city, whose design corresponds to the topography of the land and seeks to recreate a countryside environment, through buildings that follow a contemporary line.

Blu Creativity / Facet Studio

Daniel Sánchez — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

“The moment customers step into the shop, I want them to step out of the city” was the task given to us at our first briefing meeting. For this hair salon located amongst the frenzy of Chinatown, to provide a potent dosage of relaxation for people in the city with very limited time, we first analysed “what contributes to us sensing relaxation in city”.

Badeschiff / Wilk-Salinas Architekten

Daniel Sánchez — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

After the fruitful summer bathing ship and the brisk demand of press, in autum 2005 the construction was roofed temporarily, to maintain the business over winter. The winter- roofs base area is limited to the existing arrangement and consists of three lengthwise airy parts of a structure constructed with membrans, which are divorcing the interior into three functional areas: lounge, sauna- area and finally the pool ship. These areas are connected via added boxes where the sanitarian rooms are included.

Lecinq Hair Salon / ninkipen!

Jonathan Alarcón — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

This is an interior design for a hair salon in Osaka, Japan.

J's vis aile / atelier KUU

Fernanda Castro — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

'Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem' Winning Proposal / Sitbon Architectes

Alison Furuto — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Sitbon Architectes shared with us their proposal for a leisure center in the Dead Sea which was recently awarded the 1st prize for the "Best unbuilt competition entry" as well as the "People's choice winner" of the international competition AZ Awards 2013. Titled 'Cristal – The Dead Sea Gem,' the purpose of their design is to sensitize people to the interpretation of its specific nature. Like a sculpture, its volume is inspired by the salt cube structure, the symbol of the Dead Sea. All the steps remind us consequences of time. It means that we need to take care of everything: our body, our mind, our environment. More images and architects' description after the break.

King’s Bastion / RitzenArchitecten

Daniel Sánchez — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 01:00:00 +0000

After years of Franco’s dictatorship and difficult years of isolations of British peninsula Gibraltar, the border with Spain became softer. The government of Gibraltar started the reclamation and liberating military property for public and commercial use.