Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London. The site has a long tradition of hosting celebrated events, from Henry VIII’s tournaments to the annual Trooping of the Colour. The location is considered to be fitting as a venue for Beach Volleyball during the London 2012 Games.
The 15,000-seat outdoor seating bowl will have lighting for evening competition, video and sport-specific fixtures. It has been designed as two distinct elements: a ‘theatre in the round’ lower bowl to provide a high energy atmosphere, and a three-sided upper bowl allowing the spectators and camera views to use the historic sites and London skyline beyond as a backdrop to the event.
Careful planning, design, engineering and attention to detail has been central to ensuring that the venue fits in well with its surroundings and is sympathetic to its context and setting. Factors that have been taken into consideration include accessibility, noise, lighting, traffic, spectator experience and requirements of the competitors themselves.
The solutions provided include taking the standard components available for temporary stadiums and creating the same feeling of permanency as the main games venues. Pre-existing modular components will be hired to create a bespoke court. In keeping with both Atkins’ and Populous’ low carbon ethos, the venue will be dismantled following the games, and can be reassembled and used in other locations.
Jeff Keas, principal of Populous, stated that the temporary structure itself is similar in size and scale to Wimbledon’s Centre Court with a unique seating bowl that opens out to the city and will provide an amazing setting for Beach Volleyball.
The proposals outlined by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) in its planning submission to Westminster City Council are the culmination of work by Atkins and Populous to address the inherent challenges of creating a stadium for 15,000 people. The proposal is expected to provide an unparalleled experience for competitors and spectators only weeks after the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and meet the exacting standards of the Olympic Games and the London 2012 sustainability goals.
UK-based engineering and design consultancy Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and global design practice Populous is the London 2012 stadium architect and official architectural and overlay design services provider for the games.
