Projekte

Tradition
The Asian building tradition possesses an immense historic significance which offers great potential for contemporary urban planning and inspiration for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Asian architecture and landscape design traditionally works with the natural and the fluid, rather than the orderly and geometric. It is characterized by the integration of elements of nature, such as stones, hills, plants, and water. The use of linear structuring, the layering of the splendid and colorful, avoidance of monumental forms, and the use of courtyards and overhanging roofs are best seen in the colonnades and pagodas in Asia. These spatial aspects are also incorporated in the organization of the cities. The geometric courtyard is an esssential building block of the city. The most grand and significant structures also draw from these basic elements. They are larger and higher, but avoid that which is ordinary. The historic buildings have pathos, and while they are often monumental, they are not monstrosities, like many of the newer buildings.

Axis
The axis which leads to the Olympic City is the most important axis along which the Emperor's Palace, the Forbidden City and the Great Drumming Hall are attached. Here is where the new world and the western world should experience something extraordinary. The stage for this happening is asian and it will lend it its unique mentality and characteristics.

Landscape
Grand building structrures are always situated in a balanced relationship to a similarly spectacular natural setting. The landscape should not be confined only to the end of the axis, but rather as is with the Emperor's Palace, it should accompany the buildings and structures and incorporate them. The Olympic Park along the "Very Large Pagoda" integrates all of the Olympic sports facilities; large and small.

Mount Olymp
It is an unique opportunity for Beijing 2008 to make the idea of vast, designed natural landscapes, a culture which has a special place in Chinese history (e.g. the Great Wall) its main theme for the Olympic Games. The stadiums are built into hills in the modulating landscape. Only the roofs and are visible. None of the cement facades and supporting structures for the tribunes and roofs can be seen. The visitors can walk to the hills up to Mount Olymp. The Asian Games carry on the original tradition of the Olympic Games and are inspired by its own chinese architecture and garden design tradition.

Very Large Pagoda
The largest cultural and economic event of our times will constitute the next pearl of the Bejing axis so that this line of culture can forge ahead into a next era. The Very Large Pagoda continues the Great Axis of Beijing. During and after the Olympic Games it will serve as the Axis of Events, the Axis for the Exhibition Grounds, the Axis of Culture and as the Axis of Commerce. It is not first and foremost a monument, even though the "Urban Olympic Axis" is accentuated and braced by high towers. It is important that the crossing of the axis with the Fourth Ring has a clear, and spatially effective signal and conclusion effect. The ensemble of three towers can incorporate various supporting exhibition functions, such as a hotel, a congress and meeting center, and important cultural and business functions.. This Olympic Gate will be a prominent landmark in the Axis as well as in the city silhouette and will celebrate the main entrance to the Olympic Park.

A second tower lies in the northern section of the site adjacent to the stadium areas. This Olympic tower could house the important service, administrative and communications functions, as well as administration components of the Exhibition Hall of Beijing City Planning.

In our design this centuries old typology of axial planning will be continued in the most modern manner. The Very Large Pagoda with a high degree of transparency will occupy the Axis without signifying its definite end. This structure is a building supported by columns stretching the entire length of the site. It is a two to four story high construction in which the functions such as the Capital Teenage Palace, the Exhibition Hall of Beijing City Planning, bsiness facilities, including business offices, entertainment, and hotels can be integrated. The roof is punctuated by a series of regular large scale openings that allow light to reach the interiors of the offices as well as the street level.

A pedestrian promenade on the level of the park provides the backbone of circulation and public space. Large water basins, shops, entertainment and sports facilities are located in this area, as well as the main entrances into the subway and high rises. From this promenade it is possible to access all Oympic sport facilities in the park. During the Olympic Games a temporary monorail or gondola could handle the transporting of large masses of visitors quickly.

In the basement level of the Very Large Pagoda commercial facilities like shopping malls and parking are located. The section shows that one side of the below ground level has direct open access to the exhibition halls.

Fairgrounds
The new Beijing Fairgrounds and Olympic Park are situated along both sides of the Very Large Pagoda. The area of the new Beijing Fairgrounds is characterized by an orderly series of exhibition halls forming a central open space. 'The main entrance and open space exhibiton areas are located towards the Very Large Pagoda. Technical support, supplies and secondary functions can be planned along the Beichenxi Road. During the Olympic Games the exhibition halls are intended for the Main Press Center and the Main Broadcasting Center, as well as for the Olympic events of fencing, modern pentathalon, badminton, wrestling and table tennis.

The exhibition halls are flexible modules under an homogenous roof construction. It is possible to combine the modules in order to adapt to different needs of different users. In the level above the roof is a series of sky lounges; raised glass boxes which are intended for conference roooms, VIP lounges, restaurants, cafes, galleries, etc. The northern part of the site is expansion space and is left open. During the Olympic Games this area is for the central bus station and the International Zone.

International Zone
The International Zone is located adjacent to the Olympic Village at the northern end of Part B. The buildings used for the International Zone are based on the module of the exhibition halls and can be transformed for exhibition functions after the Games.

Olympic Village
The Olympic Village consists of a series of five to eight story high buildings that form long and silent spaces. Integrated into the building structure are the additional functions such as shopping, restaurants, clinics, IOC and sports facilities.

Planning in Masterplanning
The phases before and after the Games are mostly visible in the area of the exhibition spaces. During the Games, the northern part of the site is used for functions of the International Zone and central bus parking, as well as for green park zones. After the Games this area is open to public use and in the long term the expansion of the Beijing Fairgrounds will be realized in this area. The Exhibition Halls used for Olympic sporting events, IBC and MPC will be transformed into normal exhibition spaces.

The base of the Very Large Pagoda can serve different functions after the Games: enlarged shopping opportunities, entertainment and parking. The Olympic Village will be transformed into a residential area. The hockey rinks and tennis courts in Part A will open for public use.

Transport and Traffic Planning
The design uses the existing road network of the surrounding areas. The east-west connection will be continued through the site. By the modulation of the New Olympic Park the road automatically becomes a tunnel, so the park is completely free of car traffic and will be used only by pedestrians, bicyclists and rollerbladers. The main pedestrian axis is the Very Large Pagoda. On the park level a Promenade which passes along water basins, shops and entrances to the highrises and other communication services forms the backbone of all movement on the Olympic Site. During the Olympic Games a hanging monorail can efficiently support the mass transportion of the visitors.

The subway is connected at four stations with the Pagoda and Promenade by elevators and stairwells. Buses run mainly along the Very Large Pagoda on level 0. The main bus station is at the north entrance of Site B, close to the International Zone and the Olympic Village. From this point the visitors are connected to all important access points for all of the stadiums and exhibition halls.

The Olympic Village has its main entrance from the north, together with the International Zone, from which point a minivan or bus service will be organized. Visitors enter the halls from the alley along the Very Large Pagoda