By Savitha Hira
Photography: Hufton + Crow;Courtesy: Zaha Hadid Architects
Iconic architectural design is here to stay. While we see
several offshoots that often directly relate to the Zaha Hadid signature, the
architect herself continues to evolve complex geometries, breaking new
ground...
It is an undulated form – so characteristic of Zaha Hadid. But
although the wave-like undulation is inspired from the functional subject
matter, the comparison ends there. What follows is a well-orchestrated symphony
of logistics that mandate the design and construct of such large
state-of-the-art facilities to suit a global gaming venue; and extend beyond its
temporary tenure as an inclusive socio-cultural icon of the ethos of its
habitat.
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The London Aquatics Centre will mark the gateway to the 2012
Olympic Park in July-August 2012. At the core of this design inspired by the fluid
geometries of water in motion, is the strength of structural steel. The stunning
waveform shape of the complex steel roof sweeps dramatically upwards in a
smooth curve from the southern end and down over the northern cantilever, while
the western and eastern tips curve upwards at the edges.
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Designed with an inherent flexibility to accommodate 17,500
spectators for the London 2012 Games in ‘Olympic’ mode, the Aquatics Centre will
also provide optimum spectator capacity of 2000 for use in ‘Legacy’ mode after
the Games.
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The building is planned on an
orthogonal axis, perpendicular to the Stratford City Bridge – the overall
strategy being to frame the base of the pool hall as a podium connected to the bridge.
This podium element contains a variety of differentiated and cellular
programmes within a single architectural volume, completely assimilated with the
bridge. It emerges from the bridge to cascade around the pool hall to the lower
level of the canal.
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The 11,000m2 structure spans a column free
area 160m long and up to 90m wide supported on bearings on two concrete cores
54m apart near its northern end and on a concrete wall at its southern end, enclosing the 3 pools - training as well as diving - on an orthogonal axis in a unifying
gesture of fluidity.
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Double-curvature geometry generates a parabolic arch
structure that creates the unique characteristics of the roof. It undulates to differentiate between the volumes of
competition pool and diving pools and projects beyond the pool hall envelope, to
the main entrance on the bridge - the primary access in Legacy mode.
Structurally, the roof is grounded at 3 primary positions with the opening
between the roof and podium used for the additional spectator seating in
Olympic mode, then in-filled with a glass façade in Legacy mode.
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While the roof in its permanent condition is designed to be
fixed on plan at its northern bearings and free to slide longitudinally at the
southern end, lateral stability is provided by a system of horizontal and
diagonal cross braces. The finer details see precise mathematics at play in the
roof canopy and the structure at large.
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Setting new standards in sustainability and
accessible design, the London Aquatics Centre will, post the Olympics,
become a much-needed swimming facility, providing two 50m swimming pools with
moveable floors and separation booms, a diving pool and dry diving area for a
full range of community and elite use.
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Steel was a major contributor in streamlining efficient land use management in the early part of the 20th century. The Bessemer process and other high volume steel fabrication techniques gave birth to the skyscraper after the industrial revolution. Hence the iconic cities of Chicago and New York were made possible on a small land mass, which would otherwise not have been possible using the conventional brick, mortar and concrete methods.
ReplyDeletePosted by Anup Magan on Linkedin Group: London Architecture Network in response to IAnD's discussion thread:Steel facilitates both design and innovation. As a material, steel-framed construction is best exploited for the betterment of the environment. Substantiate this with some examples...
The design and concept for buildings nowadays are very intriguing since they use lot's of glass.
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