At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games we saw the acclaimed Birds Nest stadium and the beautifully bubble-wrapped Water Cube - two fine examples of iconic Olympic architecture. London 2012 will feature an award-winning Velodrome, a much-praised Aquatics Centre and a decent-looking stadium. Yes they are tidy enough but, personally, it's some of the other venues and constructions in and around Olympic Park that have caught my eye.
So here's my Top 5 London 2012 venues (I use the term 'venue' a bit loosely...).
I'd like to add a disclaimer that I have no knowledge of architecture but, to borrow a quote from C. Montgomery Burns, "You know, I'm no art critic, but I know what I hate. And... I don't hate this.".
1. The Copper Box
A box made of Copper. The Copper Box will host handball and modern pentathlon events. Simple and chocolaty on the outside, the inside is bright and filled with seats in Olympic ring colours. The inclusion of 88 "light pipes" in the lid of the box (aka the roof) allows natural light to penetrate, saving energy.
It looks clean, functional and warm. I love it and if I was a giant I would want to bend down and touch it. And perhaps remove the lid and see what treats lie therein.
2. Pumping Station
The Olympic Park Pumping Station is a vision in pink. Or is it more of a puce? Either way, this station has the responsibility for removing all of the waste water from the site so when Usain Bolt has a pre-race wee it'll end up here.
The external walls feature old engineering drawings of a pumping station built by the great Sir Joseph Bazalgette. Of course, like all decent Victorian men, his favourite colour was pink.
3. The Royal Artillery Barracks
Thousands of metres of stretchy white PVC membrane interspersed with brightly coloured ventilation holes - these temporary shooting ranges and grandstands cluster the grounds of the Royal Artillery Barracks like giant futuristic blancmange toadstools from space. After the games there will be a mad rush to take down the structures before the MOD get all fighty about it.
4. Basketball Arena
Another temporary structure. This frilly, billowy, cushiony lump of softness is made from recyclable white PVC fabric prettily arranged over a steel frame. Inside it looks huge with orange and black basketball themed seating for 12,000. As it's a temporary structure its use after the games is a bit unclear but if you need a few thousand metres of PVC you know who to call.
5. Primary Substation
The Olympic Park's electricity substation has been partially built from materials salvaged from demolitions in the nearby area and has already won a couple of architecture awards. It is a striking, dark industrial structure with perfectly sharp corners. But it has a soft side - it incorporates a "brown roof" meaning the roof has been covered with some locally sourced rubble to create an ecosystem favourable to plant growth. How they get up there is anyone's guess. Little ladders I presume.
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