National Aquatics Center

A vertical concrete core spanning the site from east to west, creates a northern competitive swimming complex and a southern family swimming complex. A main entrance galleria located along the sites eastern edge, provides entry at the north and south corners revealing the competitive and family swimming complexes, while separating the two functions allowing them to operate simultaneously or independently. The core containing the vertical circulation and a major part of the building’s program, plays an important role in shielding the competitive swimming complex from Thailand’s harsh solar conditions. An outdoor garden placed below the dormitory zone, allows natural light to enter the competitive swimming complex while ventilating the swimming venue naturally.

The concrete core is the spine supporting a tension-cable-stayed-roof structure overlaid with a Teflon fabric roofing system. This unique roof system is hung over the swimming venue’s seating to create a building form that is uniquely Thai, providing a soft light overhead, while creating a breathable building along its edges. The façade is clad in a scalloped glass structurally glazed system providing natural ventilation to penetrate the building while repelling rain during inclement weather. Below the cable-stayed-roof is a wooden ceiling screen woven the Thai way, that creates a system of filtered light, provides for artificial light and required building systems, while creating a membrane to add weight to the roof structure alleviating wind uplift.