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/// DESIGN TROTTER / London — United Kingdom London — United Kingdom / DESIGN TROTTER ///

How did the London Aquatics Centre successfully transition
The high to opening and the public? forecasts structural regard accurate
changes
What
to
were
necessary,
were
the
this
in
to reality?
DIVE HADID, WINNER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS PRITZKER Jim Heverin, Director of Zaha Hadid Architects: The transition
IRAQI-BRITISH
ZAHA
ARCHITECT
THE
LATE
a
a
was
was
transition
smooth,
having
as
quite
design
core
consideration from the beginning. The majority of seats for the
PRIZE IN 2004, GAVE THE BRITISH CAPITAL WHAT
MUST BE THE MOST MAGNIFICENT PUBLIC Olympic games were designed to be demountable and they were
taken away after the Games. No structural changes were required
AQUATICS CENTRE SWIMMING POOL EVER BUILT. A VISIONARY
as reducing the venue size and repurposing it for community
LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM) CONCEPT, INSPIRED BY THE FLUID GEOMETRY use was designed in, and provisions were made for all of the
necessary changes to open it as a venue for the public. Since its
OF WATER IN MOTION, THE LONDON AQUATICS Photo credit: Hufton + Crow
opening to the public after the Games, it has established itself as
CENTRE HAS BEEN BOLDLY MAKING WAVES
the most popular and used Olympic venue by the public for all
SINCE 2012. DIRECTOR OF ZAHA HADID
sorts of swimming and diving.
ARCHITECTS, JIM HEVERIN, WHO LED THE
The architectural approach of the London Aquatics Centre
PROJECT, SHARES HIS VALUABLE INSIGHTS
is unique. How was it conceived to ensure that, years later,
WITH US. it remains in harmony with its surroundings?
J. H.: The concept was a pavilion in a parkland setting. The roof
was designed to ‘float’ over a base so it creates views in and
out to nature both for the swimmers and the public in the park.
Tall glass façades create a seal between the roof and the base. Hygiene issues are also paramount. Materials, equipment...
These facades allow daylight into the main pool hall and views out what were the decisions made in this area?
to the sky for swimmers. The concept has been diminished by the
J. H.: Material and equipment specification was guided by pool
application of a blue vinyl film to these glass facades so the light
design specialists on the team to ensure the longevity in a highly
within is reduced, tinted and there are no views out or in. Despite
corrosive environment and the easy maintenance where constant
it, the scale of the facades and the roof enables the space within
cleaning and humid air conditions challenge the longevity of
have a grandeur that is appreciated by the public.
materials.
The practical challenges of managing user flow between
di erent spaces is significant in a public facility like a swimming
pool. How was this aspect addressed during the design process?
16 Have the decisions made at the time proven e ective today? 17
J. H.: Computer simulation of crowd flow was used to test the
Olympic mode. For the current mode, a lot of stakeholder
engagement was undertaken with different user groups, so that
in particular the brief for the changing facilities was developed
to enable all different types of users to feel comfortable in the
center. Some are happy to share facilities whilst others want
partial or complete privacy. Pool equipment such as moving floors
to reduce pool depth or the length of the pool were incorporated
in all three pools for a similar purpose, to ensure the depth and
length of the pools could be reconfigured and generate flexibility
for different swimming capacities. All of these decisions have
ensured that the pool remains an effective and highly flexible
venue for the public.
2
The 36,000 m of this extraordinary
Aquatics Centre encloses two 50-meter
pools and one 25-meter pool, overlooked
by six sleek diving boards all open to
users. There are a total of 2,500 seats
on either side for swimming competition
fans. The place's signature feature? The
roof: vast, vertiginous, designed as a giant
undulating wave. Originally built to host
Photo credit: Hufton + Crow TEMPOMATIC electronic shower valve (Ref. 452150) of 2012, these pools, so appreciated last Photo credit: Hufton + Crow
the
sporting
international
competition
by
DELABIE products installed:
were
residents,
designed
local
to
SPORTING 2 time flow shower panel (Ref. 714700)
from the very beginning.
Wall-mounted soap dish (Ref. 710500)
and other accessory ranges