London Aquatics Centre

London: London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park

London Aquatics Centre Olympic Park

The London Aquatics Centre in east London was designed by the award-winning, internationally-acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016).

The Iraq-born British architect was the first woman to ever win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. Her eye-catching buildings can be found throughout the world and she has been described as the "Queen of the Curve" for her style that liberally used curved forms.

The centre forms part of the gateway into Olympic Park.

The London Aquatics Center viewed across the Waterworks River. — The London Aquatics Center viewed across the Waterworks River

History & Design

The building was actually designed in 2004 before London had won the bid to host the Olympics in 2012.

Subsequently the design went through several changes to reduce costs and ended up being smaller than originally envisioned. This led to the construction of two large temporary "wings" to increase the spectator capacity to 17,500. After the Olympics these wings were removed and recycled or sold.

Zaha Hadid designed the London Aquatics Centre. — Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid designed the London Aquatics Centre

Inspiration

The inspiration for her design was fluid in motion, with a huge undulating wave forming the roof and reaching at times to the floor.

The steel roof, clad in aluminum, weighs in at 3,200 tonnes and in places stretches out to form a canopy. Hadid said part of her inspiration came from Dollan Aqua Centre in Scotland.

Organic curves at the London Aquatics Center built for the 2012 Olympics. — Organic curves at the London Aquatics Center built for the 2012 Olympics

Facts

The Aquatics Centre was used for the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

The Aquatics Centre's vital statistics are: completed in 2011 after three years of construction work, seating capacity 17,500 reduced to 2,500 post-Games, 160 meter-long and 80-meter wide roof done in a wave motif, three pools - a 50-meter competition pool, a 25-meter diving pool and a 50-meter warm-up pool holding 10 million liters of water, creche and cafe.

London Aquatics Centre diving platform in 2012. — Diving platform

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

London Aquatics Centre during the 2012 Olympics. — Olympic Rings

Access

Aquatics Centre
Olympic Park
Stratford
London
E20 2ZQ
www: londonaquaticscentre.org

Stratford Tube Station is the nearest station on the Central Line, Jubilee Line, Docklands Light Railway and North London Line.

Stratford International Station is a 5-minute walk. St Pancras International and King's Cross stations are now only 7 minutes away by train to Stratford International Station. ArcelorMittal Orbit is nearby and is the tallest sculpture in the UK, an observation tower, and home to the longest tunnel slide in the world.