Architecture Coordinating the Microclimate: WD Gateball Stadium

SPACE January 2026 (No. 698)

 

 

 

 

In Korean architectural discourse, sustainable architecture has often been considered to be a social and humanistic concept, often discussed in relation to communal coexistence. This concept, which has a long history in architecture, originates in fact from the engineering sciences. This is largely due to its aim to secure an optimal thermal mass without relying on mechanical systems and by employing architectural methods such as forming and re-arrangement. This process is better described as an overhaul – a complete redesign from scratch based on engineering performance standards – rather than a superficial improvement of the existing system. To compare it to clothing design, it would be like selecting materials and designing garments to suit the wearer’s bodily constitution and physique. Adaptive architecture is a methodology that actively implements the principles of sustainable architecture. Microclimate regulation based on data and systems will serve as a crucial design standard that determines future living environment qualities in Korea where it is now expected to experience extreme weather patterns. 
In this project – guided by the architectural concept of lifting the roof to frame borrowed views and aside from attempting new methodologies such as a façade that actively responds to daylight exposure, a roof respiration that aids air circulation, and a massing that promotes fluid circulation via buoyancy difference – we also sought to implement a design that was capable of integrating spatial forms and meanings via data and systems. WD Gateball Stadium is a synthesis of eight empirical design strategies aimed at engineering innovation. These elements aim to restore the fragmented daily lives of individuals through the meticulous spatialisation of intangible elements such as light, shadow, sound, and fluid that influence spatial psychology.​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concept diagram of sustainable architecture 

 

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Skin Structure The contaminated air emitted from the users’ activities undergo thermal expansion and get trapped in the ceiling due to buoyancy differences. This accumulated layer of air not only reduces the overall air quality within the stadium but also acts as a major cause of increased cooling loads and reduction of air-conditioning efficiency in Korea’s extreme summer climate that reaches up to 40℃. To solve this problem, a curved roof was installed and a roof respiration system was applied to the skylights. In most flat roof structures, air stagnates at the top and impedes air circulation. A curved roof on the other hand pushes air outward and facilitates efficient air circulation. It operates on a principle similar to the Venturi effect—comparable to squeezing toothpaste by applying pressure. When temperature rises or when air becomes contaminated, an operable skylight opens to regulate the indoor microclimate through natural ventilation. Because the uniquely shaped skylight resembles a fish fin, we nicknamed it FIN.​

 

 

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Façade Inlet SystemThe primary purpose of the ceiling screen blinds is to actively regulate daylight, ensuring a uniform daylighting environment year-round and maintaining comfortable indoor conditions for athletic activities. During summer, the screens are closed to block solar radiation; during winter, they are opened to allow solar gain. A secondary objective is to prevent cold drafts and reduce radiative heat loss to the exterior, helping to maintain indoor temperatures in winter.​​

 

 

 

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Skin structure 

 

 

 

Cloister The stadium is situated on a slope, which means that water will flow downhill into the stadium during heavy rain. To prevent this, the deck below the cloister was designed to function as a massive drainage chamber. Because the façade’s inlet system is semi-open, special measures were required to prevent rainwater from entering the interior. The underdeck drainage chamber can store and discharge large volumes of rainwater flowing in from outside even during torrential downpours.​

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