The 2012 Olympics are in full swing in London, and when you’re like me, you’re watching with anticipation for your fleeting moment when the camera pans back in the athletes to show the eloquent structures where the competitions take place. Fundamentally, as an architect, the athletes are blocking my view. But perhaps it’s just me.

The Olympics have always been a showcase for good architecture. Every four years, massive structures are designed and assembled in a remarkably short period of time, which will be an Olympic feat in itself. The best builders in the world are selected for these endeavors. When the designs are done well, the buildings represent that the host country to the rest of the planet during the games and become a vital part of the town for a long time to come.

Listed below are a few of my favourite buildings from current and past games.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Athens’ first Panathinaiko Stadium was used for the games in ancient Greece; the first wooden racks were rebuilt in marble in 329 B.C.. The arena was renovated and used for the first modern Olympic Games in 1894.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

I love the mix of modern design and traditional Japanese vernacular from the tower close to the Komazawa Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Pllc, Jody Brown Architecture

Yoyogi National Gymnasium was created by one of my idols, Kenzo Tange. The roofing is a structural system of suspension wires and concrete types — a tasteful example of form following function. It also was a major inspiration for those structures made for the Munich Olympics a few years later.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

The designs for the Munich Olympics are my favorites. The site was beautifully sculpted into rolling green hills. The main scene here is perfectly manicured to these hills. All of the chairs are green to coordinate with the grass. The tent-like suspended fabric-and-acrylic glass roof system was a major technical innovation for the time, and it’s just spectacular.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Munich’s Olympia Schwimmhalle might be the most amazing swimming pool I’ve ever seen. This is where swimmer Mark Spitz broke the record for the most individual gold medals won at a single Olympics (he made seven). The undulating glass wall joins the building to the site and flooding the space with light. Add a tentlike roof system also, well … it’s architect heaven. Give me a moment.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Three words: large retractable roof.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

I like the simplicity of this Vikingskipet (“The Viking Ship”) at Hamar. Large buildings such as these need significant structural members to span the long volume of space indoors, so most of these are skinned with complex structural framing. Leave it to Norway to find a means to refine the design into a simple, pure geometry. I believe that the outcome is elegant.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

The Olympic Velodrome at Athensis a pretty simple design for Santiago Calatrava; he could tend toward the extravagant for my own taste. However, this arena is well done. A suspension roof is used again here in order to span the large space within. I particularly enjoy the way both main structural beams are held high above the main roof. Truly, you can’t go wrong using parabolas.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

It is a simple notion: swimming centre = bubbles! In fact, that’s a stupid concept, but, in my mind, they pulled it off in the Beijing National Aquatics Center.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

That is hands down the most iconic Olympic construction I can think of. I find myself endlessly fascinated by it. Plus, “The Bird’s Nest” is a perfect nickname.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

That’s just a great space.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

They’ve done a wonderful job on the Olympic scene this season in London. I adore the simple circular form and the clean, structural x-frame skin around the exterior. But, the sculpture on the leftside? That is just nuts. They make an odd set. It is like watching John Cleese recite Shakespeare. In other words, it totally works.

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