The Olympic Park

Last night we went to have a look around the Olympic Park and, say what you will about the logo, the Park is a great space. At 500 acres, it houses a diverse range of architecture, sculpture and installations. From the breathtaking Aquatic Centre (inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion) by Zaha Hadid to the Western Red Cedar Clad Velodrome by Hopkins and the Copper Box by Make Architects, each venue is beautifully considered. The roar from the crowd as you walk around each one is spine-tingling.

 

The Park is filled with sculptures and installations from a collection of international artists, with commissions including Monica Bonvicini’s free-standing mirror sculpture, RUN, and the fascinating bit.fall by German artist Julius Popp. The latter consists of five waterfalls, each creating a continuous cascade of words, formed of hundreds of water droplets taken from the river below. The words are chosen at random from live news feeds by specialist software developed by Popp. Other commissions have been integrated into to the bridges, fences and facades of the Park’s infrastructure.

 

One of the more inspiring ideas in the Park is the landscaping by American landscape architect George Hargreaves. The once dilapidated area has been transformed into hillsides and meadows full of wild flowers and secluded areas in which to picnic.

 

The Park is superbly marshalled by the 1000’s of volunteers, all keen for everyone to get into the spirit of the Games -  though some are a little more enthusiastic than others. And the transport and over-crowding? No problem at all.

 

If you get the chance, it’s well worth having a look around.

 

Come on Team GB!