2008 Chinese Olympic Stadium

Copyright ©2004 Ellerbe Becket

80,000-seat Guangdong Olympic Stadium

The design team [Ellerbe Becket from Kansas City] set out to create an icon that relates to the physical environment and history of the 2000-year-old city. The climate of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) is balmy, and the city is green year-round. Guangzhou also is known as the "Flower City." The stadium bowl grows out of the ground to a sculpted upper edge, like the petals of a flower. Floating above the bowl is a shimmering ribbon of roof flowing like a wave over the seats. It parts at the ends and holds the Olympic flame, suspended between the two ribbons.

Click to read the full 1.04.99 press release.


Photo: Federico Motta Editore

Read about and view more images of the Guangdong Olympic Stadium.