Spherical Urban Landmarks

The Grand Ballroom proposes a large spherical building that combines an arena, hotel, residences and retail within one unified volume. The lower levels house a multi-thousand-seat event space, while the middle section accommodates hotel rooms, and the upper tiers contain apartments arranged to capture both inward and outward views. The circular form removes the idea of a rear façade and creates a continuous presence in the city, allowing public activity to wrap around the entire perimeter. The geometry also supports a clear internal hierarchy that moves from public functions at the base to private living spaces above.

Communal terraces and landscaped pockets are integrated throughout the sphere, offering shared areas that soften the large scale of the structure. Varying apartment layouts and internal walkways create a sense of neighbourhood within the broader form. The project reflects an interest in merging entertainment, hospitality and housing into a single landmark that can serve as a civic hub. The spherical design presents a bold alternative to typical mixed-use developments by concentrating diverse programs into a simple, memorable shape.

Image Credit: MVRDV