Rio 2016 Olympics from James Shaw on Vimeo.

With the 2012 Olympic summer games over in London the flag has been passed onto Rio de Janeiro for 2016 Olympics. AECOM won the International Competition for the Urban Master Plan of the Rio 2016 Olympic Park las August. Once again cities are incorporating planning for a ‘Games Mode’ and a ‘Legacy Mode’ where the area is slowly transformed over the proceeding years into new uses. Previous Olympic Parks have had varying rates of success transformed areas of cities including Sydney and Beijing(although there are still issues surrounding the main stadium), whereas Athens has fallen into disrepair and been hard hit by the financial crisis.





The Rio Olympic Park already has some facilities including a Velodrome, Aquatic Park and the Rio Arena. many of the buildings will be temporary and dismantled after the Games including the Hockey Centre, Aquatic Centre and Tennis Courts.



So, after the 2016 Olympics, sports equipment and new buildings will form a reference for the city of Rio de Janeiro in terms of urban planning and sustainability. “The Olympic Games are a unique opportunity for the city and that’s what motivates us. This contest puts into debate the construction of facilities that are essential for the competition, but it also gave us the opportunity to think about an important legacy for the city…..”, said Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, who took office as President of the Municipal Olympic Company on August 5th.



The Urban Master Plan frees up at least 60 per cent of the Olympic Park area for future endeavours. The new permanent sports facilities will be concentrated around existing ones – Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre, Velodrome and Arena Rio. After the Olympics, these facilities will be renamed as the Olympic Training Centre and will be used to discover and develop new sporting talents.



The proposal also envisages setting urban public spaces in both modes (streets, open spaces, access etc.); the transition from “Olympic Games Mode” to “Legacy Mode”; the preservation of the environmental qualities of the site, especially the ecological restoration of the lagoon; the prioritization of soil permeability; universal accessibility; the integration of municipal projects planned for the surroundings; the prioritization of sustainable technological innovations; the connection between future spots and non-sports equipment through public spaces; the meeting of the commitments under the Rio 2016 Bid, and security.

Images Courtesy of Empresa Olímpica Municipal

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC PARK

OLYMPIC GAMES MODE

PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS

Science and Sports Laboratory

Medical Centre

Reception

Accommodation for Athletes

Part of the Tennis Centre

Athletics Track

Olympic Pavilion

Media Centre + Hotel

EXISTING INSTALLATIONS

Maria Lenk Aquatic Park

Rio Arena

Velodrome

TEMPORARY INSTALLATION

Hockey Centre

Aquatic Centre

Tennis Court and Home Heating Blocks

Spectators’ Square and Parking

Living space for display of the competitions

Village Sponsors

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION

Green Areas System encompassing the edge of the Olympic Park

LEGACY MODE

Olympic Training Centre

Science and Sports Laboratory

Medical Centre

Reception

Accommodation for Athletes

Tennis Centre

Athletics Track

Olympic Pavilion

Maria Lenk Aquatic Park

Rio Arena

Velodrome

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Media Centre + Hotel

Residential, commercial and leisure

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION

System of green areas comprising the edge of the Olympic Park