Welcome to today's post! I'm going to be covering the second most important facility of the London Olympics; the National Aquatics Center located across the Olympic Water polo stadium as well as the main Olympic stadium. This is a intriguing piece of architecture which is aimed at imitating the curves that made futuristic architecture so synonymous with curves. The upside down gentle arch which is the highlight of the stadium clearly shows the extra seating up to 17,500 that the stadium will accommodate during the Summer Games while the center piece houses some 2,500 spectators for regular event viewing as well as a possible 1,500 additional seating for more important events in the post Olympics. The tragedy that befalls many Olympic facilities post Olympics often has to do with the state of disrepair that many have fallen under, especially evident after the 2004 and 2008 games where many facilities were torn down because of the funds required to operate them. The National Aquatics Center makes this less of a problem because the "wings" of this building will be taken down to reduce operational costs and have fewer empty seats. I believe that is another smart move by London, who hosted this Olympics with a budget much more modest than those of Beijing's four years ago. Aside from that, the nice driveway to the facility offers a nice addition and integration with the rest of the surroundings. But the concept of the "wings" is of course a homage to the butterfly stroke which comprises the major forms of swimming strokes used in the modern Olympics. Other than that, this design has a simple statement and a high level of functionality and eco-friendliness.
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