Activation of urban negative space - JU Basketball Park

02 Jul 2025

In the city of Yichang, Hubei, this project is situated on Development Avenue, the most vibrant part of Yichang. Once used as an urban gathering space, the underpass area of the urban main road featured a circular grandstand with 12 steps, which is now rarely used.

Photo credit: HID

In the city of Mandarin, Yichang, Hubei, this project is situated on Development Avenue, which is the most vibrant part of Yichang. Once used as an urban gathering stage, the underpass space of the urban main road presented a circular grandstand with 12 steps, which is rarely used now. Due to the lack of ramps, people gave up trying to access the area.

Set on the solid lithosphere, digging is not possible, and green space could only be added on an existing flower bed. To the east, a dark tunnel connecting to Wanda Square also appeared depressed and lacking in popularity.

The design aims to empower the space with new functions and a fresh image, meeting the needs of people of all ages by making the underpass space more attractive. To that end, the design project created an appealing all-age theme park on the free street court. The story of “a colourful mandarin and other colored fruit fall into the field” was led in for changing the colour and texture of fruit into the functional lines of a basketball field, and dividing the space into three standard half-court basketball spaces and a funny basketball court.

The 12-step was transformed into a multi-functional stand including a court grandstand, a booth, a disabled ramp, a slope for children, a fast-access step, a step booth, and a counter.

Integrated with an underpass passage, the site was designed as a colourful art business area, providing goods, light meals and a rest place.

Now, the sinking space is not a simple underpass place, but a diverse and inclusive space based on street basketball games, fun shooting, and children playing.