London will star in the Games
TO MARK 100 days to go, Populous, the official architectural and overlay design services provider for London 2012, showed us how this summer’s venues will look in use. Populous has 10 Olympics in its portfolio and is currently working on 35 of the London 2012 venues.
The temporary venues have been designed with the city as a backdrop. Greenwich Park provides one of the most brilliant, with the City’s buildings towering on the horizon. Meanwhile Horse Guards Parade will become a unique stadium, that incorporates London’s historic architecture as a backdrop for the beach volleyball.
London’s existing sporting venues are also being used, but sometimes in unexpected ways. Lord’s cricket ground will host archery, with temporary stands closing in on the shooter, emphasising the sense of theatre.
East London’s river Lea will provide some of the less well-known venues, including the canoe slalom course and the Riverbank Arena, where hockey and Paralympic football will be played on a blue artificial pitch.