Architecture is increasingly being called upon to support well-being, performance, and collective experiences as cities and landscapes continue to evolve. A new collection of unbuilt sports and wellness projects from around the world demonstrates how modern design is expanding beyond mere functionality to create environments where movement, health, sustainability, and social meaning intersect.
These innovative spaces range from elite training facilities and recreational clubs to contemplative retreats and inclusive public amenities, fundamentally reshaping how communities gather, heal, and celebrate shared identity. The projects span from stadiums that honor deep cultural memory to intimate wellness spaces that foster restoration and human connection.
A diverse selection of unbuilt proposals submitted by the global ArchDaily community illustrates this expanding vision of sports and wellness architecture. In São Paulo, Brazil, Luiz Volpato Arquitetura has reimagined the historic Santos Futebol Clube stadium with innovative geometry that preserves fans' cherished memories while introducing new commercial and social functions. The new stadium, located on the same site as the former Urbano Caldeira Stadium, will accommodate 30,052 spectators and features optimized visibility stands and a distinctive façade with scale-like brise-soleils that pay homage to the club's mascot while reinforcing its unique identity.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, Van Aelst I Nguyen and Partners have designed the UNIS Hanoi Sports Court and Swimming Pool project, bringing filtered light and fresh air to a dense urban sports complex. This transformative renovation prioritizes functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability, with a particular focus on ensuring a healthy indoor atmosphere with filtered air—crucial given Hanoi's challenging urban air quality conditions. The luminous new façade, composed of translucent polycarbonate sheets, effectively diffuses natural light while enhancing privacy and energy efficiency.
Dubai's wellness architecture scene is represented by RSP's Haven project, a groundbreaking residential development anchored in holistic wellness and nature-driven experiences. As Dubai's first residential wellness development, Haven serves as a retreat from the demands of city life, centered around a philosophy of holistic wellness that integrates sustainable design, community engagement, and nature-driven experiences. The master plan is inspired by desert lagoons and anchors life around water, movement, and calm, with flowing pathways and organic forms creating a spatial rhythm designed to slow residents down, foster connection, and restore balance.
India's contribution comes from Karnataka, where Tropic Responses has conceived the Aira Club as a climate-conscious leisure hub. This 4-acre recreational facility is nestled within a sustainable community and designed to promote wellness, leisure, and social connection. Featuring climate-responsive architecture, natural materials, and passive design strategies, the club offers comprehensive sports facilities, wellness amenities, and vibrant gathering spaces that blend modern functionality with earthy sensibilities.
High in the Himalayas, Gadasu & Partners have carved out plans for the Bluestone Spa, a meditative retreat that integrates seamlessly into the mountain stone landscape. Opening in 2029, this luxurious retreat will be nestled into the mountainside, offering a transformative escape for the body, mind, and spirit. The spa's striking blue stone façade is designed to mirror the sky and surrounding snow-capped peaks, setting the tone for an experience of profound serenity focused on holistic wellness.
In Isfahan, Iran, Arsh4d Studio has rethought the concept of segregated women's parks to create the Shahinshahr Women's Park, an inclusive, future-oriented civic space. This project responds to the social context following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the recent "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, shifting from isolation to integration and proposing a vision rooted in future-oriented design that challenges traditional boundaries and reimagines space for women as part of the city rather than apart from it.
These six sports and wellness projects collectively reflect how contemporary architecture can effectively support play, performance, and restoration while meaningfully engaging with local identity and environmental context. Each project description, as shared by the architects themselves, demonstrates a commitment to creating spaces that serve not just individual wellness needs but broader community functions, establishing new benchmarks for sustainable sports infrastructure and wellness design that celebrates dedication, teamwork, and excellence.
