https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1450-gerkan-marg-und-partner-gmp en-us The tumult of Kiev's postwar history is evident in its architecture: The bombast of Stalin's elephantine classicism was abruptly superseded by swaths of grimly utilitarian housing after Khrushchev's turn against “unnecessary excess.” 

]]> olympic-stadium-gmp.asp Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7550-olympic-stadium Kiev's Olympic Stadium is surrounded by raised terraces, a plaza to the west with a garage below, and a recently landscaped park. The lobby of an adjacent hotel serves as the stadium's VIP entrance. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineKiev's Olympic Stadium is surrounded by raised terraces, a plaza to the west with a garage below, and a recently landscaped park. The lobby of an adjacent hotel serves as the stadium's VIP entrance.Photo © Marcus Bredt The originally open-air stadium is now under the cover of a cable-net-supported roof that includes 640 domed skylights. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineThe originally open-air stadium is now under the cover of a cable-net-supported roof that includes 640 domed skylights.Photo © Marcus Bredt The facility's prerenovation capacity of 83,450 was reduced to 68,000 with the incorporation of boxes in the west stand and the replacement of benches by individual seats on the upper tier. Seats on t Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineThe facility's prerenovation capacity of 83,450 was reduced to 68,000 with the incorporation of boxes in the west stand and the replacement of benches by individual seats on the upper tier. Seats on the lower tier were respaced at 19.7 inches on center, and heights adjusted to ensure good sightlines. The seats in six shades of blue and yellow—Ukraine's national colors—are arranged in a digitally generated “pixel” pattern that camouflages any empty blocks, particularly when the stadium is seen on TV. Photo © Marcus Bredt Flying masts support the roof domes. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineFlying masts support the roof domes. Photo © Marcus Bredt Perimeter steel columns were fabricated in Ukraine, the PTFE-coated glass-fiber textile that forms the self-cleaning roof, the cables, and the connecting components were manufactured elsewhere. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkrainePerimeter steel columns were fabricated in Ukraine, the PTFE-coated glass-fiber textile that forms the self-cleaning roof, the cables, and the connecting components were manufactured elsewhere.Photo © Marcus Bredt Star-shaped textile panels reinforce the PTFE roof at each domed skylight. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineStar-shaped textile panels reinforce the PTFE roof at each domed skylight.Photo © Marcus Bredt Faceted 50-foot-tall glass facades preserve views of the existing stadium structure from the street and shelter new circulation galleries set against the concrete upper tier. On the east side, the top Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineFaceted 50-foot-tall glass facades preserve views of the existing stadium structure from the street and shelter new circulation galleries set against the concrete upper tier. On the east side, the top tier is accessed both by stairs from the main entrance level and by bridges from the park that rises behind the building.Photo © Marcus Bredt An Italianate entrance court, built in the 1950s, links the stadium and the hotel. Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineAn Italianate entrance court, built in the 1950s, links the stadium and the hotel.Photo © Marcus Bredt Rigid joints between the perimeter steel columns and the compression rings obviate the need for diagonal bracing. The new structure is generally aligned to the existing concrete frame, but exceptions Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineRigid joints between the perimeter steel columns and the compression rings obviate the need for diagonal bracing. The new structure is generally aligned to the existing concrete frame, but exceptions were made to create the symmetry required by the cable-net roof. Likewise, due to the varying depth of the canopy, the inclined tops of columns around the ends of the stadium are at a steeper angle than those along its long sides.Photo © Marcus Bredt Section-Perspective Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineSection-PerspectiveImage courtesy GMP Section-Perspective Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineSection-PerspectiveImage courtesy GMP Section-Perspective Olympic StadiumGerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP)Kiev, UkraineSection-PerspectiveImage courtesy GMP