Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nicholas Howlett
Nick Howlett
ABSTRACT
Olympic Games are some of the largest events in the world, and as such generate a
huge amount of discussion, including debate over the architecture built to support
them. In recent years, host cities have tended to invest in large, extravagant stadia,
however with ever-growing global concerns over sustainability and the legacy the
Olympics leave behind, there is increasing worry about these huge structures and
how they equate with a sustainable future for the regions they are built in.
In the summer of 2012, the Olympics came to London, where the architects behind
the stadium decided to try something different, creating a scheme designed to be
almost 70% demountable post-Games. This paper aims to investigate whether the
principles behind the design create a model for future Olympic stadia. Drawing on
previous published research, the context is first set by analysing prior designs and
relevant debates. The principles behind Londons stadium are then explored and
analysed, based on primary research from Planning applications, assessment of
published written media and personal experience, which also allows comparison to
alternative approaches for the design of a main stadium.
The paper concludes that whilst it is not as simple as saying that one approach will
always be the right one, the analysis suggests that the principles behind Londons
stadium would seem the best choice, assuming that a new stadium is desired as part
of a wider agenda. However, the difficulties that London is currently experiencing
regarding the stadiums future show that whether or not the strategy can be
successfully achieved remains to be seen.
KEYWORDS
Stadium, London, 2012, Olympics, design, architecture, Populous, demountable,
temporary, legacy, sustainability, stadia
Image
from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garymcgovern/7808803714/
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Nick Howlett
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2.1. Background
4. Analysing Success
4.2. Functionality
4.3. Sustainability
4.4. Cost
13
19
5. Conclusion
27
29
Bibliography
31
34
Appendix
35
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank all those who have helped in the writing of this paper,
notably my tutor David Coley for his assistance, and Pauline and Andrew
Howlett for their proof-reading.
Image
from: http://ninety90.co.uk/london-2012-olympic-stadium/
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1. INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background
elephants. 4
I bid for the Olympics because its the only way to get
are the 1936 Games held in Nazi Berlin and the 2008
Beijing Games, both of which served as strong political
advertisements for their countries and regimes.
Nick Howlett
Place
Category
1908
London,
New
UK
permanent
0%
build
1936
Berlin,
New
Germany
permanent
build
% of seats Description
temporary
1976
0%
Montreal,
New
Canada
permanent
build
complicated that it was not finished on time and went far over
0%
budget. The city spent over 30 years paying off debts accrued
1980
Moscow,
Simple
USSR
renovation
0%
1984
Los
Simple
Angeles,
renovation
0%
USA
1992
Barcelona,
Extensive
Spain
renovation
0%
club
1996
Atlanta,
New semi-
USA
permanent
44%
build
urban regeneration.
Sydney,
New semi-
27%
Main Stadium held 110,000 during the Games, with one stand
Australia
permanent
build
Nick Howlett
Table 1 continued:
Year
2004
2008
Place
Category
Athens,
Extensive
Greece
renovation
Beijing,
New mostly
China
permanent
% of seats Description
temporary
0%
12%
build
London,
New semi-
UK
permanent
is poorly used today (as is much of the Olympic park) and the
problems
left vandalised.18
2012
69%
build
10
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Existing
New permanent /
extensive renovations
Temporary
12
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promoting volunteering.25
demountable.
Figure 6: Exploded visual of Londons stadium showing its key component parts
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Figure 8: Sectional diagram of the stadium (Red denotes main public entrance level)
Figure 9:Visual showing how the stadium might look if all demountable parts are removed
Back of house
within.
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4. ANALYSING SUCCESS
was (see figure 9). This would limit its impact on place
promotion (on a national or international scale) to
34
18
19
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4.2. Functionality
Positive
Negative
Design
the track will mean spectators are too far away from
the stadium proper, the lower tiers fall away and you
athletics track.42
the only stadium Ive seen where the best view is from
Culture Show
Show
Building Design
Herald
Standard
Its a bowl of blancmange was my first reaction
38,39
to a temporary structure.43
4.3. Sustainability
this was fine when the sun was shining, but made
37
20
21
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46
sporting venue.47
48
22
23
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successful.
53
25
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5. CONCLUSION
London 2012
Architectural
design
promotion.
Sustainability
Compromises may be
transforms post-Games,
functioning, so presumably
community.
strategy.
environmental technologies to
for zero carbon), but potentially energy also low. Carbon cost
massively compromised if
demountable parts dont find a
legacy use.
Cost
26
Relatively expensive in
Games.
to be economically sustainable
post-Games.
Nick Howlett
Angeles 1984).
thing
32. Ibib
28
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
org/sustainable-games/sustainable-legacy/ [first
energy required
accessed 07.09.12]
http://www.treehugger.com/modular-design/london-
olympic-stadium-to-be-worlds-biggest-flatpack.html
Available at http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/
06.11.12]
learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/documents/pdfs/
sustainability/425009-145-reducing-carbon-aw.pdf
at http://www.bdonline.co.uk/comment/is-the-
olympic-stadium-legacy%E2%80%99s-first-white-
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond/2012/11/boris_
Available at http://www.norway.org.za/NR/rdonlyre
s/3E6BB1B1FD2743E58F5B0BEFBAE7D958/114457/
FeasibilityStudyforaCarbonNeutral2010FIFAWorldCup.
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divides-opinion/2007/11/08/1194329412685.html
at http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-olympic-
Supplement. pp14-19
co.uk/arts/architecture/its-a-winner-so-give-
our-olympic-stadium-the-stirling-prize-8204885.
Abingdon: Routledge
Available at http://www.ukgbc.org/events/delivering-
planningforms.newham.gov.uk/online-applications/
applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M7
Available at http://www.ukgbc.org/events/delivering-
Available at http://planningforms.newham.gov.uk/
at http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/footprint/
planningforms.newham.gov.uk/online-applications/
online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab
footprint-blog/london-2012-delivering-a-sustainable-
applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M7
10.11.12]
Chichester: Wiley
sport/olympics/after-the-party-what-happens-when-
planningforms.newham.gov.uk/online-applications/
planningforms.newham.gov.uk/online-applications/
16.09.12]
applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M7
applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M7
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/london-2012-
olympic-stadium-by-populous/5016249.article [first
Architectural Press
postwar-olympic-stadium/1996-atlanta-2/2380/ [first
accessed 02.09.12]
Document/Publications/Sustainability/01/24/08/76/
accessed 6.11.12]
www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/olympic-velodrome-by-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9610170/
Available at http://www.rics.org/site/scripts/
London-Mayor-Boris-Johnson-favours-200m-
Available at http://www.london2012.com/schedule-
retractable-seat-plan-as-long-term-solution-for-
02.09.12]
smh.com.au/news/World/London-Olympic-stadium-
32
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APPENDIX
Appendix 1: London 2012 Venues
Note: Overlay in the table below refers to the addition of facilities for athletes and spectators, as well as Olympic
Figures
branding/security etc.
1. Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium. http://www.flickr.
com/photos/22079885@N02/2947401162/
2. Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Stadium. http://
Venue
Category
Maximum
capacity
Aquatics Centre
New build
17500
86%
Basketball
Arena
New build
12000
100%
BMX Track
External works
& back of house
6000
100%
Box Hill
Overlay only
N/A
Brands Hatch
Overlay only
Unknown
Unknown
Overlay only
32609
0%
Existing venue
City of Coventry
Stadium
Copper Box
New build
7000
14%
Earls Court
Internal fit-out
15000
0%
Equestrian
Centre
External works
& back of house
23000
100%
Eton Dorney
Enhancements
30000
Unknown
Eton Manor
New build
10500
71%
ExCeL Centre
Internal fit-out
40000
(over 5
arenas)
100%
Hadleigh Farm
External works
& back of house
3000
100%
dailytrackpic.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/los-
angeles-memorial-coliseum-los-angeles-ca/
flavorwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/
Athens-2011-007.jpeg
www.oobject.com/every-postwar-olympic-
stadium/1996-atlanta-2/2380/
Tables
% of seats Notes
temporary
sportlights/
11. Comparison of embodied carbon of stadia.
Authors own presentation of data from Cullen, J.
et al., 2012 & Econ Poyry, 2009
12. Comparison of embodied carbon per seat.
34
No seating provided
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Nick Howlett
Venue
Category
Maximum
capacity
Hampden Park
Overlay only
52603
0%
Horse Guards
Parade
External works
& back of house
15000
100%
Morrison
Hyde Park
External works
& back of house
3000
100%
06.07.2005 London wins the right to stage the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics
Lords Cricket
Ground
External
adaptations
6500
100%
Millennium
Stadium
Overlay only
74500
0%
Existing venue
20000
0%
% of seats Notes
temporary
Existing venue
15.07.2003 London bid submitted to International Olympic Committee. Conceptual design by Allies &
07.02.2007 Olympic Park masterplan submitted for outline planning permission. Approved 28.10.2007
30.11.2007 Stadium design submitted for First Stage reserved matters planning permission. Featured
80000 seat scheme (with future transformation down to 25000 seats). Approved 03.04.2008
09.05.2008 Stadium design submitted for Second Stage reserved matters planning permission. Approved
02.10.2008
Old Trafford
Overlay only
75811
0%
Existing venue
Olympic
Stadium
New build
80000
69%
Riverbank
Arena
New build
15000
100%
Royal Artillery
Barracks
New build
Sailing Centre
External works
& back of house
N/A
St James Park
Overlay only
52387
0%
Existing venue
The Mall
External works
& back of house
Unknown
100%
December 2012 (time of writing) Debate on-going over future tenant despite various deadlines passing.
New build
6000
Velodrome
7500
0%
100%
11.02.2011 West Ham Football Club chosen as preferred bidder to take over the stadium after the Games
11.10.2011 Deal to sell to West Ham collapses after legal challenge
19.07.2012 Planning application submitted for transformation to a 60000 seat legacy stadium instead
Remains as community and elite sport facility postGames (as part of bigger Velo-park)
Water Polo
Arena
New build
Wembley Arena
Internal fit-out
6000
0%
Wembley
Stadium
Overlay only
90000
0%
Existing venue
White Water
Centre
New build
12000
100%
36
5000
100%
2017 Stadium will host Athletics World Championships and Paralympic Athletics World Championships