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SANCTUARY OF MACHINAS
sector // sports facility
location // kl sports city, malaysia
year // 2021
stage // conceptual
APOTHEOSISM & THE SPECTACLE
The legitimacy of E-Sports as a "real sport" has been widely debated. Although it does not fit neatly into any existing quintessential definition of a sport, the draw and excitement it creates cannot be discounted. Champions are widely celebrated, drawing parallels to apotheosism, where they are being worshipped and rewarded with fame, fortune and worldwide adulation.
The scheme dives into themes of apotheosism and the spectacle by drawing references from the Ancient Greeks, and reinterprets them into a modern, new-age era of the 21st century, by means of architecture.
REFERENCES FROM ANCIENT OLYMPIA
Olympia is a sacred place attracting pilgrims from all over Ancient Greece and neighbouring kingdoms, to honour the Olympian Zeus via a spiritual ritual involving games resembling the modern Olympic Games which we are familiar with today. This holy pilgrimage through the hills of Olympus was regarded as a holy procession to light the Olympic embers.
Pilgrims will also pay their respects in the sanctuaries such as the temple of Zeus to seek enlightenment before heading into the Stadium (arena) to witness the Games.
This scheme seeks to borrow these ancient rituals and adopt them into its architecture by translating the procession, the enlightenment and the arena into a physical, tangible experience by means of architecture.
ARCHITECTURAL STRATEGY
The site is a narrow strip sitting atop a hill overlooking KL Sports City and the national stadium which great existing landscapes. The intention was to preserve these existing landscapes and be as less intrusive as possible to its surroundings by "going underground". This strategy also addresses the strong West-East site axis which will inevitably draw heat gain.
Next, the location of the arena is identified to ensure that it can accommodate the required 1,000 persons, followed- with a 1:12 gradient long-ramp extending from one end of the site into the arena to create drama and to simulate the procession of the Ancient Greeks. Sunken gardens are carved out of the landscape to allow sufficient light and air, which double-up as courtyards for the support spaces such as the lobby, shop, cafe and a training centre.
Lastly, a 3-storey monolithic concrete tower which act as the Hall of Fame, resembling the Ancient temples serve as a periscope for the public to view into the spaces under the ground's surface, and to also act as a hologram gallery to project champions and heroes of past and present E-sports competitions.