© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.

Centrepiece of the 2008 Olympics, this stadium has created a new icon for China and the City of Beijing, and holds a massive 91,000 seats. The near-circular bowl, which was designed from the inside out, has been optimised to place the spectators as close as possible to the athletics track and jumps, while providing excellent views and a full range of seating types and facilities for the general public, media, officials, premium spectators and VVIPs.

© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.

The form of the National Stadium is popularly described as a ‘birds nest’ with interwoven twigs, and the pattern was also inspired by traditional Chinese ‘crazed’ pottery, found in Beijing markets.

© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.

Although seemingly random, the pattern abides by complex rules imposed on the structure in order to be able to define the geometry.

© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.

© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.

© Arupsport . Pubblicata il 23 Marzo 2009.