Shanghai Indoor Stadium

Shanghai Indoor Stadium The building has a gentle curve that keeps it from looking too heavy, and the columns that hold up the roof give the outside a sense of rhythm. The doors are large and they open out into a corridor that connects directly to the platforms. The floor is tiled and the lights are built into the ceiling panels.

The architecture belongs to a specific period. The 108 columns that support the structure were prefabricated, which was unusual at the time, and the roof is a steel grid that spans more than a hundred metres. The revolving doors at the main entrance turn constantly on match days.

Inside, the seating rises in a tight ring around the court. The space is tight but it works. When the Shanghai Sharks play here, the fans are close to the action and they can see every pass. The court is a little smaller than the ones in the new arenas that have opened since, but the acoustics are better. That is why the Rolling Stones came here in 2006 and why the table tennis championships came in 2004. The surface is flat and the sightlines are clear.

The metro station below the stadium has two lines and the signs are in both Chinese and English. The pillars in the station are white and round, and the ceiling curves like the one above the stadium. There are benches for people to sit on and the platforms have glass screens. It is easy to leave the stadium and catch a train without going back out into the rain. The connection between the two buildings is seamless.