Life inside the London 2012 Olympic Park

Monday, 9 January 2012

Olympic Games Winter Update January 2012 - London 2012

Olympic Park area re-naming

As part of the 200 days-to-go countdown, LOCOG also released details of new Games-time naming for selected venues and spectator areas in the Olympic Park. The naming will help create consistent signage and ‘wayfinding’ for spectators, aiding crowd flows and helping spectators navigate the 500-acre Olympic Park site. New naming includes:

- Riverbank Arena (Formerly Hockey Centre). The venue hosts Hockey events in the Olympic Games along with Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football. The new name reflects the venue’s location next to the River Lea in the Olympic Park.

- Copper Box (Formerly Handball Arena). The venue hosts Olympic Handball and the Fencing discipline of the Modern Pentathlon, then by Goalball during the Paralympic Games. The new name reflects the venue’s boxed-shape and distinct copper cladding, helping create a visual reference for spectators travelling to the venue.

- Stratford Walk (Formerly F10 / Aquatics Centre bridge). This huge 250m-long land bridge forms the main ‘Gateway to the Games’ taking spectators from Stratford City across the Aquatics Centre and towards the Olympic Stadium. Stratford Walk is expected to carry two-thirds of people visiting the Olympic Park, and will be joined by three other main spectator entrances - ‘Greenway Walk’ in the south of the Olympic Park; ‘Eton Manor Walk’ in the north; and ‘Victoria Walk’ in the west.

- London Way. The main circulation route for spectators and central ‘spine’ of the Olympic Park, running north-to-south through the middle of the site. It will be the only 'London Way' within London.

- Orbit Circus. Located around The Orbit, the 115m high visitor attraction in the south of the Olympic Park between the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre, this spectator area takes the typically London reference to ‘Circus’ meaning a central area where a number of different spaces converge.

Standing below the ArcelorMittal Orbit

Inside the Olympic Site - 18th October 2011, originally uploaded by Andy Wilkes.

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

London's latest Olympic venue

In Woolwich, by the Arsenal, is a collection of wonderfully wacky Olympic buildings - this the only one photograph-able above the building site hoardings. For the shooting and paralympic archery events. Two others are tucked behind this edifice - one with pink 'things', the other with blue. On a cold winter's day, with the moon hanging in the sky, they're a striking testament to the creativity of contemporary architects.

The red structures are moving membranes, rubber-like, birthday balloon-like - they seem to breathe for the building. And according to the architects - they act as natural ventilation and allow light into the building. Nice for the shooters and archers, and spectators.

A side-on view of the latest London Olympic venue to near completion. PVC membrane encloses the shooting and paralympic archery venue and the rubber membranes provide natural light and ventilation.