I think the reviewer opinions here are pompous, but then again so are mine. For instance The reviewer slams the 1936 Olympic stadium as a symbol of fascism which in my opinion the stadium was more an art deco structure rather than a political statement.If the Chinese Olympic Stadium or the "Bird nest" is a political statement it would probably be that of "globalization is good" since every venue structure they have was outsourced to western firms whereas most countries who host an Olympics use their own designers and architects.
What makes a country great are it's ideas and contributions. All these ideas were outsourced hence the "globaliztion" theme.
Snipet from the New York Times: "...During sports events, it glows with energy: the hue of its translucent skin shifts from game to game with the colors of the teams. Inside, the steep pitch of the seats creates the impression that the 70,000 spectators are coiled tightly around the field. It’s a masterly way to choreograph the focused hysteria of a soccer match.
But in Beijing, the architects were clearly striving for something more heroic. The centerpiece of a vast Olympic park in the northern reaches of Beijing, the stadium is raised on a mound of earth to give it a more monumental presence. Its matrix of crisscrossing columns and beams was conceived as a gargantuan work of public sculpture.
Viewed from a distance, the contrast between its bent steel columns and its bulging elliptical form gives the stadium a surreal, moody appearance, as if it were straining to contain the forces that are pushing and pulling it this way and that. Philosophically, it suggests the tensions just beneath the surface of a society in constant turmoil. ..." [Link]
LOL - Wow! that shows me!!! What do I know about architecture? (Also, you may have to login for this article.)
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