Aquatics Centre Legacy Mode Redevelopment | 2,500 Capacity | U/C

metroranger · June 22nd, 2008, 08:21 AM

It seems there is no dedicated thread for the 2012 Aquatics Centre build so I thought I'd start one.

Aquatics Centre site on Wikimapia.

Aerial view from Wikimapia taken before site clearance began.

Site clearance begins.

Looking south along Waterworks River.

Looking north.

metroranger · June 22nd, 2008, 08:25 AM

Site clearance 11 May 2008.

metroranger · June 22nd, 2008, 08:29 AM

Towards Aquatics Centre site from the Greenway 24 may 2008.

metroranger · June 22nd, 2008, 09:03 AM

Latest renders of Aquatics Centre from ODA Planning site.

Games mode.

Main entrance.

Main entrance spectators holing area.

Main entrance extended podium.

Main entrance outside.

Plaza.

Birds eye view.

Main entrance.

External view.

View from Carpenters Road.

View from car park.

Interior textures.

Interior.

Brightonboi · June 22nd, 2008, 10:19 AM

Looks like something out the 60s 70s inside.

Luke · June 22nd, 2008, 12:35 PM

Just because it uses concrete?

Bowater · June 22nd, 2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

Just because it uses concrete?

Yep!

DarJoLe · June 22nd, 2008, 12:52 PM

I'll be perfectly honest and say I don't think this is going to be the architectural wonder so many at the ODA believe it is going to be. It's been to much compromised from the original bid design and further redesigned to satisfy legacy demands making it too small for the Olympic mode and generally a less grand building.

I'm not convinced either by the fact the main entrance during the Games in on the southern end, and that there are only two lifts for disabled access which is painfully ridiculous.

That said, it's a Zaha Hadid, which makes me moist whatever it looks like, but I have a real scary feeling this isn't going to turn out the 'Sydney Opera House' Seb Coe wanted it to be.

metroranger · June 22nd, 2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

I'll be perfectly honest and say I don't think this is going to be the architectural wonder so many at the ODA believe it is going to be. It's been to much compromised from the original bid design and further redesigned to satisfy legacy demands making it too small for the Olympic mode and generally a less grand building.

I'm not convinced either by the fact the main entrance during the Games in on the southern end, and that there are only two lifts for disabled access which is painfully ridiculous.

That said, it's a Zaha Hadid, which makes me moist whatever it looks like, but I have a real scary feeling this isn't going to turn out the 'Sydney Opera House' Seb Coe wanted it to be.

My sentiments exactly DarjoLe (even down to my favorite word "moist").
Didn't they learn anything from the Barbican Centre or Hayward Gallery, how many people are going to try to get in through the back door before realizing the main entrance is on the other side?

DarJoLe · June 22nd, 2008, 01:28 PM

I don't think it will be a problem per se during the Games, because people with tickets for Aquatic events will be funnelled off to the left when they come over the Stratford bridge so in essence will be forced round the back. The main bridge will then be for spectators going to the stadium or velodrome etc.

It's just such a shame the urban realm for this isn't akin to the stadiums- no pods, no concourse, no real sense of an open view. Put some of that in there and you'd have a really exciting venue to simply walk around as well as take in events inside.

Brightonboi · June 22nd, 2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

Just because it uses concrete?

No look at the shape of the pool, The lights, And how the diving boards are shaped. + the concrete !

Luke · June 22nd, 2008, 08:32 PM

I'll give you the diving boards, I can't really comment on the lights but the pool? What shape were you expecting for an Olympic Pool?

DarJoLe · June 22nd, 2008, 08:34 PM

Not really sure what the problem is with it looking 60s/70s inside.

rickster2k · June 22nd, 2008, 08:38 PM

I like the look, a bit like the TWA Terminal at JFK.

That said Zaha Hadid's original design was far superior, shame it was too expensive.

delores · June 22nd, 2008, 11:30 PM

I just am disappointed the building is not big enough so we don't have to have those retarded wings on the side. Its looks great in legacy mode a building we will be proud of...unfortunately not at the olympics.

Madman · June 23rd, 2008, 12:54 AM

to be honest during the Games no one will care about the exterior, London has enough icons to fill the worlds tv schedules and the action will all be inside (most people only know about athens' pools (with no roof) because all the swimmers got either blinded or sunburnt in the baking sun there). I believe the legacy mode is far mor eimportant and at least that looks a ok.

Have to say i am loving the interior, especially the diving boards - very reminiscent of the work of Lubetkin at London and Dudley Zoos - nice to see Zaha getting back to her constructivist leaning roots - not too keen a fan of much of her recent blobby work.

Bob · June 23rd, 2008, 01:45 PM

The Olympic pool is outrageously good. There is no way London would have got anything like this were it not for winning the games. A bit of comparison is needed.

Manchester Commonwealth pool

London's best today - actualy I'm quite fond of this

My local pool when I was growing up.

Beijing - equally as good I'd say, no better, no worse.

high_flyer · June 23rd, 2008, 11:03 PM

I think the Beijing pool looks amazing at night, but awful in daylight, like a giant plastic greenhouse.

I think the London pool will end up as a pleasant surprise to everyone.
We've got to have faith in our business and political leaders.......don't we?

jimbo · June 24th, 2008, 07:08 PM

hadn't seen the aquatic centre until today, but its been worth the wait, beautiful curves, but what are the chances of the sky being so azure and clear......
Are all the railway sidings going to remain, or be relocated?

Cat man do · June 24th, 2008, 08:22 PM

The renders show various highrises behind the pool, are these real or just there for effect?

June 22nd, 2008, 08:21 AM	#1
metroranger Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stratford Posts: 337 Likes (Received): 0	Aquatics Centre Legacy Mode Redevelopment \| 2,500 Capacity \| U/C It seems there is no dedicated thread for the 2012 Aquatics Centre build so I thought I'd start one. Aquatics Centre site on Wikimapia. Aerial view from Wikimapia taken before site clearance began. Site clearance begins. Looking south along Waterworks River. Looking north. __________________ Links to other Stratford threads. London 2012 : Stratford City : Olympic Village : Stratford Residential Towers : Olympic Stadium : Stratford Station : Aquatics Centre

June 22nd, 2008, 08:25 AM	#2
metroranger Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stratford Posts: 337 Likes (Received): 0	Site clearance 11 May 2008. Site clearance 11 May 2008. __________________ Links to other Stratford threads. London 2012 : Stratford City : Olympic Village : Stratford Residential Towers : Olympic Stadium : Stratford Station : Aquatics Centre

June 22nd, 2008, 08:29 AM	#3
metroranger Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stratford Posts: 337 Likes (Received): 0	24 May 2008 Towards Aquatics Centre site from the Greenway 24 may 2008. __________________ Links to other Stratford threads. London 2012 : Stratford City : Olympic Village : Stratford Residential Towers : Olympic Stadium : Stratford Station : Aquatics Centre

June 22nd, 2008, 09:03 AM	#4
metroranger Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stratford Posts: 337 Likes (Received): 0	Latest renders. Latest renders of Aquatics Centre from ODA Planning site. Games mode. Main entrance. Main entrance spectators holing area. Main entrance extended podium. Main entrance outside. Plaza. Birds eye view. Main entrance. External view. View from Carpenters Road. View from car park. Interior textures. Interior. __________________ Links to other Stratford threads. London 2012 : Stratford City : Olympic Village : Stratford Residential Towers : Olympic Stadium : Stratford Station : Aquatics Centre

June 22nd, 2008, 12:35 PM	#6
Luke Blackboard Monitor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,303 Likes (Received): 0	Just because it uses concrete? __________________ The latest movie reviews - www.sharemypopcorn.co.uk

June 22nd, 2008, 10:19 AM	#5
Brightonboi Rule Britannia ! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK - EU Posts: 864 Likes (Received): 0	Looks like something out the 60s 70s inside.

June 22nd, 2008, 12:52 PM	#8
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 15,663 Likes (Received): 394	I'll be perfectly honest and say I don't think this is going to be the architectural wonder so many at the ODA believe it is going to be. It's been to much compromised from the original bid design and further redesigned to satisfy legacy demands making it too small for the Olympic mode and generally a less grand building. I'm not convinced either by the fact the main entrance during the Games in on the southern end, and that there are only two lifts for disabled access which is painfully ridiculous. That said, it's a Zaha Hadid, which makes me moist whatever it looks like, but I have a real scary feeling this isn't going to turn out the 'Sydney Opera House' Seb Coe wanted it to be. __________________ "I can quite confidently and with pride say that if everything goes to plan London 2012 will be the best Olympic Games and will surpass Barcelona and Sydney in terms of atmosphere, style and achievement. And not just about the sport. The whole city and its people will come alive and want to be a part of this. It just feels right." DarJoLe, May 19th 2006.

June 22nd, 2008, 01:28 PM	#10
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 15,663 Likes (Received): 394	I don't think it will be a problem per se during the Games, because people with tickets for Aquatic events will be funnelled off to the left when they come over the Stratford bridge so in essence will be forced round the back. The main bridge will then be for spectators going to the stadium or velodrome etc. It's just such a shame the urban realm for this isn't akin to the stadiums- no pods, no concourse, no real sense of an open view. Put some of that in there and you'd have a really exciting venue to simply walk around as well as take in events inside. __________________ "I can quite confidently and with pride say that if everything goes to plan London 2012 will be the best Olympic Games and will surpass Barcelona and Sydney in terms of atmosphere, style and achievement. And not just about the sport. The whole city and its people will come alive and want to be a part of this. It just feels right." DarJoLe, May 19th 2006.

June 22nd, 2008, 08:32 PM	#12
Luke Blackboard Monitor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,303 Likes (Received): 0	I'll give you the diving boards, I can't really comment on the lights but the pool? What shape were you expecting for an Olympic Pool? __________________ The latest movie reviews - www.sharemypopcorn.co.uk

June 22nd, 2008, 08:34 PM	#13
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 15,663 Likes (Received): 394	Not really sure what the problem is with it looking 60s/70s inside. __________________ "I can quite confidently and with pride say that if everything goes to plan London 2012 will be the best Olympic Games and will surpass Barcelona and Sydney in terms of atmosphere, style and achievement. And not just about the sport. The whole city and its people will come alive and want to be a part of this. It just feels right." DarJoLe, May 19th 2006.

June 22nd, 2008, 08:38 PM	#14
rickster2k Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southampton Posts: 1,620 Likes (Received): 12	I like the look, a bit like the TWA Terminal at JFK. That said Zaha Hadid's original design was far superior, shame it was too expensive.

June 22nd, 2008, 11:30 PM	#15
delores Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,562 Likes (Received): 24	I just am disappointed the building is not big enough so we don't have to have those retarded wings on the side. Its looks great in legacy mode a building we will be proud of...unfortunately not at the olympics.

June 23rd, 2008, 12:54 AM	#16
Madman London 2012 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire / Bloomsbury Posts: 2,856 Likes (Received): 1	to be honest during the Games no one will care about the exterior, London has enough icons to fill the worlds tv schedules and the action will all be inside (most people only know about athens' pools (with no roof) because all the swimmers got either blinded or sunburnt in the baking sun there). I believe the legacy mode is far mor eimportant and at least that looks a ok. Have to say i am loving the interior, especially the diving boards - very reminiscent of the work of Lubetkin at London and Dudley Zoos - nice to see Zaha getting back to her constructivist leaning roots - not too keen a fan of much of her recent blobby work.

June 23rd, 2008, 01:45 PM	#17
Bob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,321 Likes (Received): 3	The Olympic pool is outrageously good. There is no way London would have got anything like this were it not for winning the games. A bit of comparison is needed. Manchester Commonwealth pool London's best today - actualy I'm quite fond of this My local pool when I was growing up. Beijing - equally as good I'd say, no better, no worse.

June 23rd, 2008, 11:03 PM	#18
high_flyer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: England Posts: 553 Likes (Received): 1	I think the Beijing pool looks amazing at night, but awful in daylight, like a giant plastic greenhouse. I think the London pool will end up as a pleasant surprise to everyone. We've got to have faith in our business and political leaders.......don't we?

June 24th, 2008, 07:08 PM	#19
jimbo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leeds/London Posts: 4,677 Likes (Received): 3	hadn't seen the aquatic centre until today, but its been worth the wait, beautiful curves, but what are the chances of the sky being so azure and clear...... Are all the railway sidings going to remain, or be relocated?

June 24th, 2008, 08:22 PM	#20
Cat man do Founder of the 'Gy'. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carrbridge/Highlands Posts: 2,050 Likes (Received): 30	The renders show various highrises behind the pool, are these real or just there for effect?

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