This elegant pavilion at London’s Olympic Park is home to a box office, event space, bar, restaurant and roof terrace with panoramic views. We were determined to make it a beautiful, bold building, though not one so flashy that it would jar with its distinctive neighbours, particularly Anish Kapoor’s 114.5m ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture. And we were intent on building it sustainably.
The competition-winning design we came up with is simple and sophisticated. The pavilion is clad in black and white and rectilinear in form, comprising two blocks connected by a sleek white metal roof, with a wide pedestrian route between them. A 2.4m overhang emphasises the building’s horizontal lines, as do long strips of dark timber. These have been textured by a traditional, environmentally friendly Japanese charring method.
The pavilion’s floor, wall and roof panels were factory-made in large sections, which meant lower building weight, less embodied carbon, and fast, cost-effective delivery. The roof is highly insulated, fitted with solar panels, and covered at both ends in soil and greenery. Rainwater is collected for greywater. Such measures have earned the structure a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.
A sleek, sustainable, distinctive legacy building for the Olympic Park – the Podium is this and more.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=139&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=31afaa9602042de0a175d53125d65924 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=279&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=b2738ae761e3b2a64bdfd3048f21bef2 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=509&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=19db678a383aaae99dcde1f193b801fd 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=679&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=2fbae08d9f785987a91301afef4d3809 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=929&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=0b0b180933c79b293224a87567d61f75 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1061&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=9e8c16a192118dc193d531d1bbceaae8 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-9.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1274&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=a06d24ba38798ae767c7e57f70c1d980 1920w)
The beautifully proportioned rectilinear building is formed from a series of horizontal and vertical planes that enclose the internal and external spaces.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=293c845121cfc2fbdd1f4f49e398d279 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=2c819fb809b3726aa1927865a9960176 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=513&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=4fbf0662dc5c9432040903ba20c6e103 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=194ddf096a96754f55cd26a53594f645 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=934&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=4f627560afc2669deb57d86425fe9997 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1068&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=375384e5090951f121da133b4f70c797 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1281&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=0886dca855f9b52d2315b38224866ab8 1920w)
An interactive ‘pixel wall’, designed by London-based design collective Tomato, animates the Podium.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=0e03f7fb53ccf6b2c07ef283ef7c18ae 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=1b9a814dc9568e4b2a330ebe72bae466 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=513&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=423e73d791ddfa0a2a8da33173238e97 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=684&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=5ecab5b909d0adc3efda7ef1a1fd3963 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=935&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=e79f0221556662b00ed53648bb316cb6 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1068&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=7dafe5c9de629c00353e53beedc7de31 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-16.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1282&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=9142b08a66557a9128ea58ca11b7060d 1920w)
ThePodium_Make-16
More than 2,000 hand-crafted wooden cubes are threaded onto steel rods.![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=7241dd5f8a4477aa9ebd160633953bf4 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=f3d662600eff10dc64047a6cdb199e54 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=513&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=47e7677dd6e2f3f3f709d91984b4be53 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=684&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=02744dd6e4d8a6c85604c3c836ba919f 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=935&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=d4378a197b67249734ad2a837984c4fb 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1068&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=db7b955749ba3e2125d2d51ba9f50e5a 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-8.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1282&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=0a2fdf0fd4e96f884c0b5a3dab896f82 1920w)
ThePodium_Make-8
Their light and dark surfaces can be rotated to create patterns, text or images, transforming the wall into a giant message board.![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=315&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=10745db5e700394e54631cf26c90d23f 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=629&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=3e5912de8a3a49736ad887de538525d8 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1151&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=9b729342ef92fea7061072af960c5b34 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1534&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=33e295eba0690d251971d87aac145556 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2098&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=9d5d2baabcbc8ee87b55e27fa0aebaa0 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2397&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=9655f7767dd0ad262bd3a343f0e38085 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2877&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=5057716c5cf5d3ae3275729d2a3a11a0 1920w)
The Podium is one of the anchors for the regeneration of this site. We're delighted to see this legacy building completed and hope it becomes a key destination for visitors to the park.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=123&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=ee30b2c5a080c8c1d81498704facc3f8 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=245&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=1b962cb4b9c83d0bcd419a7f52ce5750 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=449&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=7afdf5cda0b4c99e7759ef514bbdfd5b 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=598&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=6a5f87e63f196c66d364ef5fe189ad3c 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=818&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=2f9e26a37e68b370136427cb66b37b9e 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=935&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=9c1815dbcbead2d3da72daa53e63b493 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-11.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1122&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=86cda894dc781aba1eb8840aea77d2b7 1920w)
Photograph of the Podium taken from the top of the Orbit. The building is carefully stitched into the landscape as part of a fully integrated park masterplan, designed in consultation with urban designers James Corner Field Operations.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=145&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=90245ae38e70afb8bf79379e2196b646 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=290&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=fb7088241befae71c1581375e00b0792 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=531&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=dc996282e998fa7a1466d93bcb9b99d9 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=708&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=b7233bbdc1edd817325fad481ad281ff 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=968&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=2e02ae21d714109e2aed9250676f7665 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1106&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=bbd9ee1a3305fb58b3a37417290e579b 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FThePodium_Make-15.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1327&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=62abc55257298d5af95b061932be7a8f 1920w)
A white metal roof with an overhang around the perimeter emphasises the building’s horizontality and provides shade.