So, a couple of weeks have gone by since we actually made it to the Olympic velodrome. The day was great fun, and even though we were only there for a series of heats, quarter finals and semi finals, there was enough excitement with quite a few of the big Team GB names putting a on show (Hoy, Pendleton, Varnish).
The velodrome itself was a great building, the views of the track inside were great, the atmosphere electric (especially during the Keirin) and the structure simple. For those who are interested, the roof consists of timber cassettes (hollow) suspended from cables strung across the arena from a steel ring beam, insulation was laid ontop of this, and the waterproofing above. Unfortunately, we were quite tightly chaperoned to the site so didn't manage a wide angle shot - but there are plenty out there... the
e-architect site has lots of information about it and some development pictures.
The original conception for the building became known (to me anyway) as the floating pringle. I think the build has managed to maintain the idea in the delivery with a glazed wall beneath the roof providing a lightness to the roof and visibility into the velodrome - in places you can see down to the track to watch the cycling. It's quite enticing, and if you were just passing it would probably make you want to go in, and who knows... you might take up cycling!
Whilst the velodrome had us convinced, the rest of the Olympic park left a few more question marks. Because the majority of the buildings are either temporary, or designed for legacy mode, I came away with a feeling that it was all a bit cobbled together - and having seen the Beijing site a couple of years back, am concerned at what people will leave London feeling. As an example, the Hadid designed pool was value engineered to the extent that they took out most of the seating needed for an Olympic event, leaving a smaller legacy pool... which I can understand given the white elephant of the Water Cube. However, they've taken a (relatively) interesting legacy building not designed to be scaled up, the additions seriously compromise what the building looks like (again no pictures - sorry, but you'll see it in time!). The architecture doesn't flow particularly and the additions just look slapped on. The main stadium seems to hold it together, having been designed with the idea of removing a bit of it, but other areas feel a little lame. I'm sure it will all be brought together by what looks like a very exciting landscaping scheme.
We were both unconvinced by the overwhelming Anish Kapoor 'sculpture' - not quite sure what the plan is with it, but once the extra bits of the park get taken away, it's going to dominate the area... not a good thing.
However, I will save my last shot of the post for the approach to the site. I don't know if this is the final route (there were no signs to the Olympic Park from the tube, just cold volunteers (who were great) with big pink foam pointy fingers (which were not)) - but to get from Stratford Station to the site, you have to walk through the middle Westfield shopping centre.
Just what does that say about us as a nation?
