Bird’s nest stadium, Beijing

Beijing National Stadium, officially the National Stadium   also known as the Bird’s Nest is a stadium in Beijing. Beijing National Stadium, located at the south of the centerpiece Olympic Green, is a stunning landmark building , which staged the 2008 Olympic Games from 8 August to 24 August 2008. The opening and closing ceremonies and athletic track and field events of the 29th Olympia   took place at the stadium.  It was designed as the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Olympic events of track and field, football, gave lock, weight throw and discus were held there.

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Since October, 2008, after the Olympics ended, it has been opened as a tourist attraction. Now, it is the center of international or domestic sports competition and recreation activities. In 2022, the opening and closing ceremonies of another important sport event, Winter Olympic Games will be held here.

The stadium has a gross volume of three million cubic meters and is considered to be the world’s largest enclosed space. It is also the world’s largest steel structure with 26 km of unwrapped steel used.

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The innovative structure was designed by Herzog & De Meuron Architekten, Arup Sport and the China Architecture Design and Research Group, and has been nicknamed the “bird’s nest” due to the web of twisting steel sections that form the roof. The stadium design was inspired by the formation of nesting birds. The architects have succeeded in translating the concept, so that their work on the project soon gained the nickname “bird’s nest” almost spontaneously among the Chinese population.

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The design is based on the nests of birds, not only aesthetically but also at a structural level. The entire structure, visible from the outside, mirrors the branches of the nests that working together, with each other, achieve unimaginable resistance to the elements. At the center of the area that also houses other Olympic structures; the stadium seems to be perched like a spaceship, with a quiet majesty whose appeal is given by its slight undulation. The architects and engineers also had  to satisfy the requirements laid down by the National Stadium Company in order to create a bold, stand-out, world-class stadium and to design it with as much flexibility as possible for future use.

national stadium 2The circular shape of the stadium represents heaven, but has been described as a bird’s nest, with its pattern inspired by Chinese-style crazed pottery. A series of cantilevered trusses has been designed to support the roof, shading the seats. While designing the stadium, architects and engineers also ensured comfortable seats and optimum view for all spectators.

The stadium covers an area of about 258 thousand square meters (99.614 square miles), which can accommodate 80,000 fixed seats and 11,000 temporary seats. Its appearance was formed by big steel frames. Its top surface is saddle-shaped with the major axis of 332.3 meters (1,090 feet) and the stub axis of 296.4 meters (972 feet). The tallest point of the stadium is 68.5 meters (225 feet) above the ground and the lowest point is 42.8 meters (140 feet). The top is covered by semi-transparent air bubble film. This kind of material is waterproof and can make enough sunshine penetrate into the stadium. Owing to that, the lawns in it can grow well. American-Chinese pop star Leehom Wang held the first solo pop concert at the stadium on 14 April 2012. It will be the only stadium to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies.

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