Olympic Sports Complex - Nations Wall

Calatrava reorganized the existing 100-hectare area and designed a new roof for the Olympic Stadium; a new roof and refurbishing of the Velodrome; entrance plazas; and entrance canopies for the entire complex. Additionally, and on his own initiative, he designed the Agora complex; a central Plaza of the Nations, including tree-lined boulevards; a pair of arcade structures; his own version of an Olympic cauldron — a giant torch; a sculptural Nations Wall; a new warm-up area for athletes: pedestrian bridges and connections to public transportation; parking areas; bus terminals; and installations for all service elements. He also conceived for the common area to include circulation spines. The central circulation spine for the complex runs in an east-west direction, connecting the Olympic Stadium and the Velodrome, Perpendicular to this spine is a wide boulevard of trees that links the tennis courts, the new warm-up areas, and the logistics center.

The Nations Wall is a monumental sculpture made of tubular steel, 261 m long (856 ft), which stands just south of the Plaza of the Nations and the central axis. Designed so that it can move mechanically in a wavelike motion, the sculpture is made up of 960 vertical elements, each 20 m tall (66 ft), which are operated by 480 motors. The Wall’s function, in part, is to create an architectural screen for a large hall that stands to the south, so that this building may be visually integrated with the complex. In motion, the Nations Wall will create a pleasing effect of light and shadow over the central axis and Plaza of the Nations. It can be adapted to serve as a giant projection screen for events held in the Plaza of the Nations.