A hybrid sports hall that can transform during a disaster.

Project idea

Living Resilience: A Dual-Identity Public Building

Climate change, earthquakes, and global disasters have revealed the urgent need for buildings that are not only resilient but also capable of adapting rapidly to unexpected circumstances. While many public buildings are designed for a single purpose, they often become underutilized or ineffective during emergencies. This project is driven by the belief that architecture should function as a dynamic system capable of responding to society's changing needs.

The proposal introduces a hybrid public building that operates as a contemporary sports complex in everyday life while transforming into a fully operational field hospital within hours during disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

The design is based on the principles of flexibility, modularity, and adaptability. Its structural system, building services, and spatial organization are strategically designed to accommodate emergency healthcare functions without requiring major physical intervention. Modular partitions, mobile equipment, and pre-integrated mechanical and electrical infrastructure enable a rapid transformation into patient wards, triage areas, emergency treatment units, and critical care spaces.

Rather than creating a facility that remains unused until a disaster occurs, the project maximizes social and economic value through continuous public use. It promotes health, recreation, and community engagement in everyday life while becoming an essential component of emergency response infrastructure when needed.

More than designing a building, the proposal reimagines architecture as an adaptive civic system—one that supports communities during normal conditions and protects human life during times of crisis. It demonstrates how resilient design can bridge everyday functionality with emergency preparedness, creating a sustainable model for the cities of the future.

Project description

Transformable Space: A Disaster-Ready Hybrid Sports Complex

Architecture should not only accommodate everyday life but also provide resilient environments capable of sustaining communities during times of crisis. This project proposes a hybrid public building that functions as a sports complex under normal conditions and rapidly transforms into a fully operational field hospital during natural disasters, earthquakes, or other emergency situations.

The design is founded on the principles of flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. Its structural system, spatial organization, and technical infrastructure are carefully planned to support a seamless transition from recreational use to emergency healthcare services. Sports courts can be reconfigured into modular patient wards, triage areas, intensive care units, and emergency treatment spaces.

Through the integration of modular partition systems, mobile furniture, and pre-planned mechanical and electrical infrastructure, the transformation can be completed quickly with minimal labor and disruption. This strategy provides a rapid response solution during the critical hours following a disaster, when access to healthcare facilities is essential.

Rather than serving solely as a sports facility, the building becomes a resilient civic infrastructure that strengthens community preparedness. During everyday life, it promotes health, recreation, and social interaction; during emergencies, it becomes a life-saving medical center capable of supporting disaster response operations.

Sustainability is embedded in the project's philosophy. By combining multiple functions within a single building, the proposal maximizes resource efficiency while minimizing the need for additional emergency facilities. Energy-efficient systems, daylight-oriented design, and natural ventilation strategies further enhance both environmental and social sustainability.

Ultimately, the project redefines architecture as more than a static physical structure. It becomes an adaptive system—capable of evolving with changing circumstances, protecting communities, and safeguarding human life when it is needed most.

Technical information

The building is designed to operate as a multifunctional sports complex under normal conditions while allowing a rapid conversion into a fully functional field hospital during disaster scenarios. This transformation is enabled through modular architectural and technical systems integrated into the building from the initial design stage.

A key feature of the proposal is the ceiling-mounted movable partition system operated by a rail-and-pulley mechanism. During everyday use, the partitions remain concealed above the ceiling, preserving a large, unobstructed sports hall. In emergency situations, the partitions can be lowered quickly to divide the interior into functional zones, including triage areas, emergency treatment units, patient wards, intensive care spaces, staff support facilities, and logistical service areas. This system enables the building to achieve an efficient healthcare layout within a very short period.

The structural system is designed with long-span construction and a minimized number of columns, providing maximum spatial flexibility for both sports activities and emergency medical operations.

Photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof contribute significantly to the building's daily energy demand. In post-disaster situations, when the electrical grid may be unavailable, the system provides a reliable alternative power source for critical medical equipment, lighting, communication systems, and essential building services.

Supported by daylight-oriented design, natural ventilation strategies, and energy-efficient building systems, the project combines sustainability, resilience, and adaptability into a single civic infrastructure capable of serving communities in both everyday life and emergency situations.

Documentation

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