Project: London Aquatics Centre

Sara Pepitone -- Interior Design, 7/19/2012 4:07:07 PM

Inside the London Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects.


What happens after the 2012 Olympics are over? That was the question first

Fast Facts Project: London Aquatics Centre Location: London Finished: July 2011 Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects SF: 120,980 Cost: USD $428 million

and foremost in the design process of the London Aquatics Centre. In fact, the future consideration of the spaces was how London won the overall bid, according to project architect Glenn Moorley, Zaha Hadid Architects, which has been involved pre- and post-bid.

Host to diving, swimming and synchronized swimming as well myriad other water sports, the Aquatics Centre will be the Olympics' second highest capacity venue. But, "[Long term] it's not clever to have a swimming pool to hold 17,500 people, "says Moorley. "Even in London you'd never use that, ever."

The solution: After the Paralympic Games, the Aquatic Centre will be deconstructed to result in a smaller space. The frame wings on either side of the central space will be removed, unbolted, and sold. The PVC wrap that's temporarily enclosing the space will also be sold, while the seats and toilets will be reused elsewhere.

By 2014, the slimmed down Aquatics Centre will hold 2,500 people (with the ability to add 1,000 more for major events) and the permanent, usable structure will become the smallest capacity venue in the park. Quite the opposite of the usual post-Olympics scenario: large, oversized venues that have no life beyond a few weeks.

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