Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford, London

As Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opens to the public this weekend it feels timely to have a look at the landscape surrounding one of its iconic buildings, the London Aquatic Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. This oval building is located on a plot where its north entrance is approximately 5m above its south car parking level. Connecting the car park level to the building entrance are two arcing stepped footpaths. A tapering planting bed is located between this footpath and building, this is widest at the bottom diminishing to a point at the top. This is planted with an evergreen grass and provides all year round interest. At the south end of the building a grass stepped green wall has been installed. This has been stepped to accommodate the venting in the horizontal plane, required by the aquatic centre

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Bottom Elevation Showing Green Wall

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Fair Faced Concrete Retaining Wall and Balustrade

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Concrete Steps, Resin Bonded Gravel, Grass Planting and Green Wall

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Fair Faced Concrete Steps

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Lighting Under Handrail

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Balustrade Detail

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – View Down the Steps form the Upper Landing

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Upper Landing Grass Planting

Aquatic Centre Landscape, Stratford – Upper Level Planting and Resin Bonded Surface