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With less than four years to go London is steadily shifting shape in preparation for the 2012 Olympics where the city will become the world’s centre stage. Sporting venues have attracted world-class architectural talent such as Zaha Hadid, who is architect for the Aquatics Centre, and HOK Sport who are designing the Olympic Stadium. But while these spotlight venues retain the attention of the masses, further designs have today been revealed for the Olympic Village, which will be home to thousands of the world’s greatest athletes, and in the run up to the main event is demonstrating the same team spirit embodied in the Olympics.Fifteen architects firms of different sizes are collaborating in the overall design of the village. Swiss landscape design firm Vogt Landschaftarchitekten are developing the masterplan jointly with urban designers Patel Taylor, and with continued support from Fletcher Priest. Other firms including CF Moller, MAKE, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands are involved in individual Village schemes.
The latest designs shown here illustrate the residential schemes, courtyard areas, pedestrian walkways and open spaces in the Village. Planning permission has also recently been secured for the first three residential schemes.
“These new images demonstrate the progressive and diverse architecture and design integrity that we have been striving for in developing the village, both as a home for athletes in 2012 and as an iconic sustainable community beyond. The importance of this project is also reflected in the rapid and exciting progress onsite,” said Dan Labbad, Chief Executive for Lend Lease Europe, the scheme’s major investor.
Lend Lease’s contractors have also now completed work to lift into place the first new bridge in the Olympic Village site, which will help to ensure accessibility to the site. The 44 metre long bridge was lifted in using a 1,000 tonne crane and is the first of three new bridges to be built in total. The bridges will each span the High Meads Loop railway line to connect the new Olympic Village development with the existing housing and communities adjacent to Village site. The bridges will also carry services and utilities to the Olympic Village development.
Niki May Young
News Editor