Rio 2016 unveils Olympic Park masterplan

From the IOC:

The Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has unveiled the masterplan for the city’s Olympic Park, following an international competition to find the best design. The winning project was chosen ahead of 60 entries from companies in 18 countries and outlines both the park’s Games-time usage and the long-term legacy it will leave for Rio.

It shows how the different areas of the Olympic Park will be used, such as where the public spaces, squares and parks will be located, and also outlines the location of the permanent and temporary venues and the future real estate developments to be built at the site.

In 2016, the Olympic Park will be at the heart of the Games, hosting the competitions for 10 Olympic sports (basketball, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, handball, hockey, tennis, cycling, aquatics and gymnastics). The Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) will also be built on the site.

The new permanent sports venues in the Olympic Park will be built around the existing facilities, such as the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre, the Olympic Velodrome and the Olympic Arena. After the Games, this group of venues will form South America’s first Olympic Training Centre, helping to discover and develop sporting talent, while at least 60 per cent of the Olympic Park will be freed up for future developments.

“This is yet another step taken towards building the Rio 2016 Games legacy,” said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee. “The Olympic Park legacy for Brazilian sports will be a training centre modelled after the successful experiences of the world’s greatest sporting powers.”

London Completes Basketball Arena for 2012 Olympics

London has completed construction on the Basketball Arena to be used in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The structure is temporary and will be torn down after the games. It's interesting. I don't hate it. It seems to go along with their wacky design philosophy. It also seems to allude to the "Water Cube" from Beijing 2008 which is fun. You can read more info and commentary regarding the structure over at FPM.

FC Barcelona's Camp Nou to get a make over

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of FC Barcelona's Camp Nou football (Soccer for us Americans) stadium the club issued an international tender to re-model the stadium. This satdium was used to host the football tournament during the Summer Olympics in 1992. You can see the stadium as it is currently above. And below is a Scale model of the purposed make over of Camp Nou.


I actually think this is a beautiful design, even though there is a striking similarity to China's Beijing National Stadium.

Beijing's Water Cube drawing different types of crowds

A year after the Summer Olympics, the fancifully designed aquatics center is popular with tourists and is regularly booked for weddings and galas, including an extravagant production of 'Swan Lake.'

More @ LA TIMES

"Bird's Nest" Construction Photograph

Click the photo to enlarge

This wonderful AP photo was taken during the construction of the Beijing National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest. Both the photo and the architecture itself are beautiful and remarkable.

If I knew the photographer I would certainly credit him or her but I came across this photograph online and I have no background info on it other than it is from the AP. I wanted to share it none-the-less.

Beijing unveils "Water Cube" National Aquatics Center

Visitors walk past the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing January 28, 2008. China officially unveiled its bubble-wrapped National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed the "Water Cube", on Monday, one of the two iconic venues for this year's Beijing Olympics. The imposing rectangular box, clad in a honeycomb of transparent cushions, will host the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming during the August 8-24 sporting spectacular. (REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV)

Chinese soldiers stand near the Olympic swimming pool during the inauguration ceremony of the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing January 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV)

I think it's beautiful! I think between this and the "Birds Nest" they have created some very iconic and memorable architecture.

Wikipedia: Beijing National Aquatics Centre
ESPN: Unique venue to host swimming events in Beijing