The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

With the Paris 2024 Olympics just around the corner, excitement is building up. This time, however, it’s not for the usual reasons (well, at least not for the architecture community). Traditionally, the Olympics have been synonymous with grand, jaw-dropping structures designed to leave a lasting impression on the world stage. After all, with more than 200 nations competing, this is the largest sporting event in the world and hosting it can be both an honor and a challenge for a city.

For the past couple of Olympics, iconic stadiums and ambitious venues have pushed the limits of design and engineering, creating lasting legacies for host cities (a trend that reached its peak during the prime era of “starchitecture” in the 2010s.) Unfortunately, they’ve also pushed the limits of sustainability — or rather, the lack thereof. Many of these structures ended up being “white elephants,” underused and costly to maintain, with significant environmental impacts.

This year, the event is taking a different approach. While there has been a noticeable shift towards more sustainable practices so far, Paris 2024 is pushing these efforts further than ever before, aiming to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. To do so, the 2024 Olympics focuses on using existing venues, reducing environmental impact and creating long-term benefits for the local community. But how did we (finally) get here?

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The Evolution of Olympic Architecture

Before starchitecture made its mark, Olympic venues in the 20th century were more functional than spectacular. These structures were built primarily to accommodate the events and athletes, with little thought given to their post-games use or iconic status. The focus was on practicality and utility rather than making an architectural statement.

For example, the 1960 Rome Olympics featured venues like the Stadio Olimpico, which was originally built for football and expanded for the Olympics, ensuring it had a continued purpose after The Games. Similarly, the 1972 Munich Olympics left a significant legacy with its Olympic Park, which has continued to be used for various sports and public events.

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The Olympic Games in the Era of Starchitecture

With the advent of postmodernism in the late 20th century, the architecture industry began to embrace bold, eclectic designs that often prioritized form over function. This shift was marked by the rise of “starchitecture”— a trend where high-profile architects designed iconic, statement-making buildings. Naturally, this movement found a perfect stage in the Olympic Games, where host cities aimed to showcase their cultural and economic ambitions.

Think of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium designed by Herzog & de Meuron. This stadium, with its intricate steel lattice structure, symbolized China’s growing economic and architectural ambition. While initially celebrated, the Bird’s Nest has since struggled with post-Olympic usage, often criticized for its high maintenance costs and underutilization.

The aftermath wasn’t much different for the 2012 Games in London, particularly for some of the new venues. While Populous designed the main stadium with sustainability and future use in mind, it still faced challenges in finding consistent use and financial stability. The stadium had a hard time justifying its costs despite being built with a legacy plan.

On the other hand, the Aquatics Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid, stands out as a success story. Unlike many other Olympic structures, the Aquatics Centre was a much-needed facility that has continued to thrive post-Games.

This unfortunate trend continued into the 2016 Rio Olympics, where numerous venues faced severe maintenance issues and underutilization. The infrastructure left behind became a burden rather than a benefit, leading to criticism of the sustainability and planning of these grand projects.

Moreover, these issues aren’t exclusive to the Summer Olympics. Winter Games venues have also faced similar problems. Sochi 2014, for example, saw its sprawling Olympic Park and facilities underused post-games.

So, by the time the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were being planned, public sentiment had shifted significantly against extravagant Olympic architecture. Zaha Hadid’s initial design for the Tokyo 2020 stadium faced public outcry due to its enormous cost and scale, leading to its replacement by Kengo Kuma’s more modest and environmentally conscious design. Kuma’s stadium emphasized natural materials and integration with the surrounding environment, reflecting a broader shift towards sustainable architecture.

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Paris 2024: A New Paradigm

This stroll down Olympics memory lane makes it clear that the days of sensational architecture and impractical grandiosity should no longer be the norm.

Cue to today. The 2024 Olympics were promised to be the most sustainable ones yet. So what exactly is making the Paris Olympics different?

1. Reusing Iconic Venues

Paris 2024 is setting a new standard by extensively using existing venues, minimizing construction costs and, as a result, reducing environmental impact. This approach not only saves resources but also prevents the creation of underutilized structures after the event, which was clearly a common issue in past Olympics.

One prime example is the Stade de France, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. This stadium will host the athletics events and ceremonies, showcasing how repurposing existing infrastructure can be both efficient and environmentally friendly. Another notable venue is the Roland-Garros Stadium, famous for hosting the French Open, which will be used for tennis and boxing events. By leveraging these iconic sites, Paris ensures that these structures remain integral parts of the city’s sporting landscape long after the Games conclude.

The use of existing venues extends beyond Paris itself. For events taking place outside the city, venues like Bordeaux Stadium (designed by Herzog & de Meuron) and Vélodrome Stadium (by SCAU architecture) will be utilized.

2. Utilizing Cultural and Historic Sites

Beyond sports venues, Paris 2024 is utilizing several cultural and historic sites, incorporating the city’s rich heritage with the grandeur of the Olympics. The temporary Champ de Mars Arena, located in the park between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire, will host judo, wrestling and beach volleyball competitions, providing a stunning backdrop for both competitors and spectators. (After all, are you even competing in Paris if the Eiffel Tower isn’t in the background to witness it?)

Other iconic sites include the Grand Palais (set to host fencing and taekwondo) and the Château de Versailles (where equestrian and modern pentathlon events will take place). These choices reflect Paris’s commitment to integrating the Olympics into the city’s existing urban and cultural fabric, rather than building new, potentially (or, more often than not, completely) redundant structures.

3. New Future-Ready Projects

Only one new sports venue is being built for Paris 2024 — the Aquatics Center designed by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/. This building will host water polo, diving and synchronized swimming events during the Olympics. After the Games, it will serve as a community sports center.

Utilizing 90% renewable or recovered energy, the center’s solar roof is one of the largest solar farms in France, covering 25% of its electricity needs. An efficient water system reduces the need for freshwater, reusing 50% of the remaining water while guaranteeing clean water for all purposes. Emphasizing upcycling, the design includes furniture made from wood waste and tribune chairs crafted from 100% recycled plastic collected from local schools.

The building will be surrounded by abundant vegetation, creating a livable and healthy district for the people of Saint-Denis. Over one hundred trees will be planted to improve air quality, stimulate biodiversity and create new ecological connections.

Another standout development is the Olympic and Paralympic Village, designed to transform into a vibrant, fully-fledged city district by 2025. Unlike previous Olympic villages that often became underutilized post-Games, this village will feature more than 2,500 new homes, a student residence, a hotel and extensive office spaces, emphasizing sustainability with its high carbon storage performance and renewable energy sources.

The design also aims to engage the local community with a rooftop gymnasium, extensive green space and a Food Court that extends the public space and encourages social interactions among residents. A pedestrian bridge will connect the public spaces around Stade de France with the Aquatic Center and the new heart of the future eco-neighborhood of La Plaine Saulnier, ensuring connectivity and accessibility.

4. City-Wide Sustainability Initiatives

Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the venues. The city has undertaken several initiatives to ensure the greenest Olympics yet. These include creating 250 miles of new bike lanes, extending the Métro network and, perhaps most famously, cleaning up the Seine River. Moreover, 300,000 new trees have been planted to strengthen the urban biodiversity.

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A Blueprint for the Future

Paris 2024 is not just setting a new standard for the Olympics, but rather offering a blueprint for future global events. By prioritizing sustainability, reusing existing structures and integrating the Games into the existing urban fabric of the city, Paris is showing the world how to host a major event responsibly.

As we look forward to the start of the Olympics, there’s hope these strategies will not only ensure a successful event but also leave a lasting positive impact on the city and its residents. Paris is proving that it is possible to honor the grandeur of the event while embracing sustainability and community-focused planning.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

The post The Rise and Fall of the Starchitect Olympics Stadium (and What Paris Is Doing Right) appeared first on Journal.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern architecture and construction, the complexity of building projects is escalating, with each decision intricately linked to factors like structural integrity, sustainability, cost efficiency and aesthetic value. This interconnectedness requires strong communication, where choices in materials, design and technology influence the building’s performance, environmental impact and user experience. Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to ensure that the built environment meets the diverse needs of contemporary society from an aesthetic, functional and regulatory perspective while anticipating future challenges.

The intricate nature of contemporary building projects is driven by several key factors: the growing emphasis on sustainability necessitates careful material selection and building methods to minimize environmental impact; stricter regulatory requirements demand meticulous compliance, ensuring that projects meet all legal and safety standards; additionally, innovative designs must skillfully balance aesthetics with functionality, creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also highly practical and efficient.

Building projects are highly interdependent, prompting decisions made by one stakeholder or discipline to potentially influence the work of others. A collaborative approach ensures that the outcome reflects a harmonious synthesis of diverse expertise and perspectives, ultimately contributing to the project’s success in meeting functional, aesthetic, regulatory and sustainability objectives. For instance, choices made by architects regarding design aesthetics and spatial planning can affect structural engineering considerations, construction methods and regulatory compliance requirements; sustainability consultants’ decisions on green building certifications and energy-efficient strategies can influence design elements, construction materials and operational practices throughout the building’s lifecycle; and engineering decisions on structural integrity and sustainability can impact architectural design possibilities and material selections.

This interplay, which spans many disciplines at many levels, highlights the importance of early and continuous collaboration among stakeholders, including architects, designers, engineers, contractors, clients and regulatory bodies. By involving these parties from the project’s inception, there is a shared understanding and alignment of goals, ensuring that decisions are informed by a comprehensive view of all project requirements and constraints. Not only does this interdisciplinary collaboration enhance decision-making efficiency, but it also allows for the integration of diverse perspectives into a cohesive project conception that optimizes functionality and aesthetic appeal while meeting regulatory standards and sustainability goals.

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Elevating Design: The Role of BIM in Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The key is to create an environment where different team members can interact, challenge and inspire each other, leading to innovative and practical solutions. The diverse expertise and perspectives from interdisciplinary collaboration ensure all angles are considered, creating thorough solutions. The success of such collaboration relies on clear communication to achieve shared goals. While this communication is essential, advanced technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) enhance it further, improving project design and construction processes.

BIM revolutionizes the design and construction processes in AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) projects by enhancing collaboration and efficiency. BIM allows stakeholders to work from a unified digital model containing comprehensive project information. This digital representation facilitates real-time updates and seamless interdisciplinary communication.

BIM incorporates multiple dimensions, such as 3D for spatial design, 4D for scheduling, 5D for cost management and 6D for sustainability. These dimensions enable stakeholders to visualize complex designs, detect clashes early, simulate construction sequences, and analyze energy performance. By improving accuracy and optimizing decision-making, BIM ultimately leads to cost savings, faster project delivery and enhanced overall quality in construction projects, making it an indispensable tool in the AEC industry.

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Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters

CSWADI’s Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters in Chengdu, China, showcases excellent interdisciplinary collaboration in AEC projects, boosted by technologies like BIM. This collaborative approach marks the Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters as a landmark in architectural innovation and sustainable urban development.

The Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters showcases a dynamic collaboration between the US and China, setting a new standard for Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in areas with extreme climates. As the headquarters of a leading design firm, it integrates into its surroundings, reimagining regional architecture through modular spaces. The project achieves a harmonious blend of form, space, and energy efficiency by combining passive strategies, active technologies, and renewable energy with innovative materials. Recognized with the 2022 Active House Award in China, it holds certifications for Net Zero Energy Consumption and Carbon Neutrality.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and cross-disciplinary collaboration were vital, ensuring comprehensive design considerations and efficient execution. This synergy optimized the integration of advanced materials and systems, such as photovoltaic energy storage direct current flexibility system, natural ventilation and pre-cooling ventilation, triple silver double hollow insulated glass, vertical greening intelligent drip irrigation system, as well as temperature and humidity sub-control technology. BIM’s influence extended through the entire project lifecycle, enhancing project management, elevating design quality, and boosting the efficiency of construction and operations.

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From Design to Construction: Harnessing BIM for Smarter Building Projects

Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a crucial role in modern building projects by promoting teamwork across different disciplines and improving efficiency in the AEC industry. BIM integrates various aspects of project management — from design and scheduling to cost control and sustainability — allowing teams to handle complex building challenges with accuracy and foresight. This technology enhances communication and collaboration, enabling teams to innovate and create smarter, more sustainable buildings that meet strict regulations and societal demands. As the industry advances, BIM continues to drive improvements that enhance project outcomes and contribute to a more resilient built environment.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

The post Building Bridges With BIM: How Collaborative Design is Revolutionizing 21st Century Architecture appeared first on Journal.