Architecture at the Beijing Olympics

With the Olympics being held in Beijing this year Westerners have seen a fierce change of architecture.

New additions to the skyline include a new air terminal by Norman Foster, Herzog & de Meuron’s National Stadium aka the bird’s nest, PTW’s National Aquatics Center with a translucent exterior, Paul Andreu’s egg-shaped National Theater and Rem Koolhaas’ CCTV headquarters with its interconnected slanting forms.

Each of these new buildings intensifies and embodies the struggle Beijing has over further public space but have achieved what they initially set out to create which was to give shape and substance to the nation’s identity.

A good example of this is Norman Foster’s airport terminal which is the largest in the world and is one of the purest creations. The form which is similar to two boomerangs placed side by side has been compared to that of a dragon. Its original architectural concept and design was inspired by that of the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin in 1930 which was established as the gateway to new Europe. The terminal building exudes the glamour of flying with sweeping shapes and a stylish interior. Foster has taken the original design and created an idea of mobility and travel to the next level. On entering the terminal you are guided by embedded lights in the ceiling and encouraged to the ramped floors and led over bridges to the elevated platform. From there you have the option for your onward travel with all roads, trains, subways and canals meeting in one central place creating a travel hub into the city.

Beijing has been completely transformed for the Olympic Games 2008 since it was awarded it in 2001. Like some cities undergoing regeneration the drive from the new airport terminal towards the centre was surrounded by ugly new towers which is a real shame for architecture and the city as most were of poor construction quality and only widened the gap been the rich and the poor.

With Great Britain having been awarded the 2012 Olympic Games what architectural wonders will we see, what cutting edge design from which established architects? Watch to see how the skyline changes with new buildings rising.

Beijing have created designs to aspire to.

Frank Woodford is an experienced copywriter working on major projects in the UK. He mainly covers current affairs and issues that currently have an impact including the Olympic Games. He works freelance for a residential architect Nottingham firm and industrial architect Nottingham agency.