Wednesday 19 May 2010

Designed, revealed and delivered

Take this piece.


Add this bit.


Join them with this one.


Add this base.


Place this on top.


Put them together. This is the end result.




The challenge for the architects of London's new Olympic Stadium was to design an international area seating 80,000 people that could be converted into a regional venue for 25,000 people after the 2012 Games.

The Olympic Stadium, now rapidly being built at Stratford in east London, is light, airy and flexible unlike previous Olympic stadia built around the world that are heavy, concrete and permanent.

The weight of the roof is supported by the external triangular frame rather than by the stadium bowl. The lightweight roof can be raised and removed relatively easily when the time comes to reduce the stadium's capacity. 

Unlike other stadia, cafes and bars will sit outside the stadium. This means the London 2012 stadium is freed of any obligation to build storage and delivery areas, extraction fans and fire walls. This also cuts down on the stadium's need for heat, light, power and water.

The design is innovative and flexible. The only doubt is who will use the stadium once the Olympic athletes and cheering crowds have long gone.




Images courtesy of Olympic Delivery Authority.


Paul Coleman, London, May 2010.

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