A wave of movement on top of the city
In busy cities, space is scarce. Especially space where people can exercise, exercise or simply unwind. But what if that space is found not on the street, but above our heads? What if rooftops no longer served only for installations and technology, but were transformed into places where people met, exercised and got inspired?
In Qingdao, China, they have already taken that step. Atop the shopping mall Wanda Plaza MixC, a spectacular skate park of no less than 1,500 square metres has recently been installed. Not a bare, grey roof, but an undulating blue landscape, designed by Within Beyond Studio, where skateboarders, walkers and visitors converge.
A roof that literally shows: the future of healthy, exercise-friendly cities is not next to us, it is above us.
Qingdao, located on China's east coast, is known as a port city with a rich maritime history. That sea, that movement and that sense of freedom are literally reflected in the design of the MixC Rooftop Skatepark. The fluid lines of the skatepark echo the coastline and ocean waves, the blue surface almost seeming to overflow into the sky above the city.
With a mix of skate bowls, seating areas and open zones, the skate park is more than a sports facility. It is an urban landscape, a place for movement and meeting, high above the hustle and bustle of the city.
Smart collaboration: commercial and public at the same time
What makes the project extra interesting is that it was developed entirely from a commercial angle. Property developer CR Land, owner of the MixC complex, invested in the skate park as part of a broader vision of next-gen retail: not just letting people shop, but offering them experience, movement and encounters.
Not a traditional public-private partnership, then, but a clear example of how real estate developers contribute to the quality of life of a city and benefit from it themselves at the same time. After all, an attractive roof attracts visitors, increases the length of stay and turns a shopping centre into a social hotspot.
Why it matters
Vital cities require more than just green parks or sports facilities in public spaces. They call for smart, three-dimensional solutions. Roofs are the forgotten layer of our city. The layer where we literally reclaim space.
Qingdao shows how it can be done:
✔ By combining aesthetics and function ✔ By combining commerce and social value ✔ By integrating sport, exercise and social interaction ✔ By creating new space above the city for health and vitality
"Skating on the roof shows: even in the busiest city, there is always room to move."
Technology and design that invites
The technical execution of the skate park is at least as impressive as its design. The entire structure rests on a sturdy steel frame with a concrete top layer, finished with a hard-wearing, solvent-free polyurethane coating. This high-quality finish ensures that the park can withstand Qingdao's salty, humid sea climate as well as intensive use by skateboarders.
Also striking are the white, spherical seating objects scattered across the roof. They subtly refer to foaming sea waves, offer places to rest and enhance the aesthetics of the roof.
Not residual space, but opportunity space
What is happening in Qingdao is no accident. More and more cities worldwide are discovering that roofs should no longer be seen as residual space spots for technical installations or empty concrete, but rather as opportunity spaces. High above the crowds, traffic and lack of space, there is literally an untapped layer of the city waiting.
Qingdao shows that this vision is not future music, but can already be a reality today. On top of a shopping centre, a roof has been transformed with guts and creativity into a vibrant place where sports, leisure and architecture come together.
And these opportunities do not only apply to metropolises in China or America. Here in the Netherlands, too, thousands of square metres of flat roofs are waiting to be used intelligently. On business parks, on top of car parks, sports halls, schools or shopping centres.
With the right vision and cooperation, barren roofs can also be transformed into places that contribute to healthy, green and vital cities. Because who says the city stops at the roof? The real potential starts right above.
What if we dare to do this in the Netherlands?
Here, too, we know the space challenges. Especially in inner cities, business parks and around railway stations. At the same time, there are thousands of square metres of flat roofs waiting for smart infill.
Imagine: ✔ Skate parks on car parks and sports halls ✔ Green, exercise-friendly roofs on offices and distribution centres ✔ School roofs where children can play, move and relax ✔ Roofs that not only generate energy but also create social energy
With guts, cooperation and creativity, Dutch rooftops can also transform from empty spaces into lively meeting places.
Marcel de Visser Co Founder Sports + Vitality