Hubbali, often known as Chhota Mumbai, is a pivotal city in Karnataka, India. Being a strategic location, it has rapidly become a demonstration ground for India's economic rise. It attracts global investments due to its thriving industries in technology, logistics and manufacturing. No wonder that the town is increasingly adopting world-class facilities that attract skilled workforces and foster economic growth. The newest of these facilities is the Figured Ground - University Sports Arena: the result of a collaboration between the Pune and Belgavi-based Thirdspace Architecture Studio and KLE Technological University. The sports architecture is an example of modern design that integrates seamlessly with its surroundings.

The Figured Ground - University Sports Arena is primarily a sports facility but also serves as a philosophical statement in built form. Designed by Thirdspace Architecture Studio, the arena embodies a dual persona that seamlessly integrates into its immediate environment of university campuses and sports grounds, all the while asserting a commanding presence along the city’s arterial road. Led by Indian architects Praveen Bavadekar and Namrata Betigiri, the studio envisioned a structure that challenges the dichotomies of traditional architecture by creating large unobstructed spaces that prioritise form and function. It blurs the lines between built and unbuilt, landscape and architecture and campus and city.

One of the most striking features of the arena is its integration with the natural terrain of the university campus. The landscape design draws cues from the structural language of the sports complex. The paths carved within the softscape mirror the angles of the structure itself. Instead of imposing itself upon the landscape, the building subtly descends into the earth from the campus side. This sectional shift not only facilitates harmony with the existing topography but also creates a series of engaging outdoor spaces that extend the social fabric of the university community. Architectural articulation plays a key role here, with a pyramidal steel roof soaring over central courts, while soft landscaping envelops the periphery, creating a symbiotic relationship between the built environment and the natural context.

The design of the Figured Ground arena is a testament to architectural innovation. Structurally, it submerges substantial volumes below ground level, thereby minimising its visual impact from certain perspectives while maximising its functional efficiency. Above ground, the building is clad in a shimmering skin of zinc and glass, reflecting the cityscape and creating a dynamic visual impression. The glass facade creates a juxtaposition of materiality—solid and translucent—ensuring that the arena remains enigmatic yet approachable, inviting curiosity from both campus inhabitants and passersby.

Internally, the arena is meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs of its users. It includes the central courts, a ping pong court, a varsity store and a gym in addition to the functional spaces with changing rooms and offices. From athletes to spectators, every space within the 4500-square-metre complex is optimised for functionality and comfort. Yet, the design transcends mere utility; it aspires to foster community engagement. The carefully choreographed pathways, plazas and green spaces around the arena encourage interaction and socialisation, erasing the boundaries between interior and exterior realms. This seamless integration enhances the arena’s role not just as a sports facility but as a cultural and social hub within the university landscape.

From an urban planning perspective, the Figured Ground arena plays a transformative role. Facing a major city road, the building assumes the guise of an urban object, its form and materiality contributing to the city’s evolving skyline. However, the design ensures that this urban presence does not overshadow its campus context. By delicately balancing between integration and assertion within the landscape, the arena becomes a dialogue between the university and the city, enriching both with its presence.

Beyond its aesthetic and functional attributes, sustainability lies at the core of the Figured Ground arena’s design ethos. The architects, in collaboration with structural and landscape designers, have incorporated principles of environmental harmony throughout the project. The arena deliberately employs passive design strategies that optimise natural light and ventilation. This combined with the use of locally sourced materials reflects deliberate decision-making towards a commitment to minimising environmental impact and maximising energy efficiency.

The project is a paradigm of modern architectural thought and practice. By embracing and reconciling dualities, the arena transcends typical patterns of warehouse-like sports arenas that are devoid of any discernible personality. It serves as an example of sports architecture done well by skillfully applying creative and passive design principles and also as a symbol of innovation and integration within the urban fabric. As Hubbali continues to evolve, the Figured Ground arena promises to stand as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful, context-driven architecture.

Project Details

Name: Figured Ground - University Sports Arena
Location: Karnataka, India
Architect: Thirdspace Architecture Studio
Design Team: Praveen Bavadekar (Principal), Namrata Betigiri (Principal),
Ashwani Choudhary (Project Architect)
Structural Design: Manjunath B L, Manjunath & Co, Bengaluru
Landscape Design: Sudhir Choughule, EcoInscape, Bengaluru      
Year of Completion: 2023