Hasta La Ideas

News: the two temporary wing-like seating stands have been removed from Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre at the London 2012 Olympic Park, meaning the building can be seen for the first time as it was originally designed.

The two temporary stands increased spectator capacity from 2500 to 7500 during the Olympic games, but their removal will enable the building’s conversion to a public swimming pool, set to open in spring 2014.

The final two 172-tonne trusses were removed yesterday and huge panels of glazing will now be installed along the two side elevations, allowing natural light into the building’s three pools and corresponding with Zaha Hadid‘s original design. Once open, it will also offer a cafe, crèche and dry-dive training area.

The renovation forms part of the £292million legacy programme to convert the Olympic site into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which will open in phases beginning with North Park this July.

The Aquatics Centre could be used as a competition venue again if London wins its bid to host the 2014 FINA Diving Championships and the 2016 European Swimming Championships.

Hadid’s building was completed in July 2011, a year ahead of the London 2012 Olympics and features an undulating wave-like roof and six curved concrete diving boards. See more images of the Olympic venues in our slideshow feature.

See more architecture by Zaha Hadid »
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Photography by David Poultney for LLDC.

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