Godwin Austen Johnson was appointed by Dubai Sports City to design the flagship academy buildings to house the Manchester United Football Training Centre, the ICC Cricket Global Academy, FIH Hockey Academy and Bradenton Preparatory Academy, but also housing additional training and club facilities for various other sports in addition to hostel facilities.
GAJ evolved the idea of the use of large bowspring arched concrete structure which provides the headroom needed above the central areas of the indoor pitch and reflects the likely trajectory of the balls at the edges, thus providing a building that is both attractive and exciting architecturally.
The indoor cricket nets also benefit from the same design logic which is then used to accommodate all of the supporting changing room areas, Olympic size indoor swimming pool, gym and café areas.
The design had to take into account the need for large clear span spaces, especially for the full size indoor football pitch, without resulting in a large and ugly shed structure.
The golf clubhouse was designed to reflect a modern interpretation of a traditional dhow in full sail capturing the essence of Dubai's seafaring traditions and the majesty and simplicity of the lateen-rigged dhows as they sailed up and down the coastline of Dubai.
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