After the games photo series

In an insightful project, io9 has procured a series of photographs documenting what has happened to the buildings used in past Olympic Games. 

The series focuses on the structures that have gone unused and derelict, including some from recent games in Athens and Beijing.

Take a look at the full collection here.

British architects to work on stadiums for Rio 2016

Two British architecture firms who worked on projects for London 2012 have successfully been chosen to design stadia for the next Olympic Games.

3DReid and AndAchitects have been chosen to work with local companies to design and build venues.

3DReid has recently been working on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games arenas, whilst AndAchitects has a long list of work with lower league football clubs.

Whilst the games will take place across 4 different areas of Rio, the companies will be focused on one area, which is the master plan of international firm AECOM. This section is vital for the games legacy as it will be be transformed in the years after the games into athletic training centres and a mix of public spaces and buildings for residential, commercial and office use. 

Watch the outline for the plans in the video below.

Rio 2016 Olympics from James Shaw on Vimeo.

Opinion: the 2012 Olympics artists posters

Art and design critics have questioned whether the posters unveiled last week to celebrate next year’s London Olympics truly represent the best of British creativity.

Mark Hudson of The Telegraph says that “overall, there are more hits than misses” among the posters by twelve leading British artists. He points to Fiona Banner’s work as the standout example, claiming its typographic combination of evocative phrases “feels appropriate to these challenging times.”

The Guardian‘s Jonathan Glancey also praises Banner’s design, describing it as “the most introspective, serious and moving of all these posters,” while questioning whether some of the designs are “aimed at art fans or athletics fans.” Patrick Burgoyne of UK visual communication magazine Creative Review reports that members of the graphic design community were disappointed not to be given the chance to participate in the design process but is unconvinced that the results would have been much better given such an open brief. The BBC‘s arts editor Will Gompertz says that the abstract nature of the posters means they lack context, adding “with this collection, you wouldn’t know where the games are being held. Maybe that in itself is a statement.”

Since their release the posters have received much more negative press and than positive. This doesn't bode well on top of widespread disappointment over the logo, typeface and mascots, followed by the dreary ticketing advertising campaign. Instead of providing a vehicle to celebrate Britain's creative industries, there is a very real danger that the 2012 Games will forever be remembered by the visual communications community as a missed opportunity of truly Olympian proportions.

To read more or to see opinions and comments about the posters visit Dezeen or Creative Review.

The Olympic Torch, Prototype Unveiled

The Torch is probably one of the most recognizable and significant symbols of the Olympic Games. This morning designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, who won the tender for its design, unveiled a first prototype in London.

The design itself connects the Torch Relay with its bearers using 8,000 circular holes in the golden aluminium alloy. It is of course the very number of inspirational figures, athletes and amateurs, who will bring the Torch to destination. 800 mm high and weighing around 800 grams, such remarkable symbology will be carried all the way to the opening ceremony.

Whether you are nominating Torchbearers or planning to assist to the sport competitions, you will probably be as thrilled as we by this first glimpse of Torch.
Yes, the Olympic Games are coming and we are proud to host the 2012 Edition in London.

Read more.