HAMPYEONG KIA CHALLENGERS FIELD BASEBALL PARK & CLUBHOUSE

Nestled between low rolling mountains and overlooking Youngsan River, KIA’s Hampyung Challengers’ Park enjoys an ideal, bucolic site. In designing KIA Tiger’s ‘T’ reserved players training facility, Suh Architects’ challenge was to underline the beauty of the natural surroundings with and understated, yet streamlined and dynamic sports facility building. Subtle measures were taken, such as cladding the building with a customized aluminum panel of 50mm width irregular patterning that would express the speed and precision of a flying pitcher’s ball. The building itself lies low to the ground and extends 100m long, allowing sunlight to panetrate even its inner facilities such as central workout rooms. Residents are thus able to enjoy natural light, fresh air and panoramic views from all communal and individual spaces, a driving aspect of the clubhouse’s ‘T’ format.

From inception, the project was driven by a ‘one stop’ system of having a centralized core the allows players and staff to move freely and efficiently between their own living quarters and their physical therapy, training, and practice facilites. The clubhouse features state-of-the-art facilities, as well as special additional pitching stations and equal dugout and shower facilities for visiting ‘away’ teams. In its desire to contribute to its local district and the sport of baseball, Hampyung Challengers’ Park has become an important site for middle, high school, and college games as well as providing opportunities for its resident players and coaches to host training sessions for the next generation of Korean baseball players.