David Morley Architects approach to architecture is both evolutionary and revolutionary. The Water Polo Arena was designed from a kit of parts that came from and was returned to the supply chain.
It occupied a prominent site at the main gateway to the Olympic Park and, with a very limited budget, the design responded through innovations in planning, form and material. The arena included a competition pool, warm-up pool and ancillary accommodation.
The design considered the whole life-cycle of materials, under the parameters: reduce, re-use, recycle and pre-cycle.
REDUCE– Using natural ventilation the need for mechanical systems was hugely reduced while achieving the precise tolerance for temperature and air movement in the field of play. The 3m level change on the site was exploited, minimising the excavation of contaminated soil and providing a wheelchair access entrance.
RE-USE–The pools are built from modular steel panels with a phthalate-free PVC liner.Some have been in use on other buildings and the pool panels will be reused in the UK government’s Pools for Schools program.
RECYCLE– 80% of the seats are black which can be easily recycled after re-use. The facility required a lightweight solution to the cladding that was easily demountable after the Games.
The arena has set a standard for sustainability in temporary buildings. It encapsulates the London 2012 commitment to sustainability whilst meeting a challenging brief requiring a cost effective, innovative and environmentally complex venue. A recent comment from the UK Trade and Industry demonstrates the Water Polo Venue’s legacy: “This was a sporting venue that challenged the design and construction industry to deliver technical excellence and value for money. It met sustainability standards without compromising on quality. The lessons learned can be applied wherever sport and the built environment come together. The future looks exciting.”
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