Panathenaic Stadium Essay

It is said to be Hercules, the mythologicical hero of strength and excertion, that set the length over which the athletes had to compete each other in the only event in the first Olympic games. Legend has it that he ran six hundred feet in 776BC to determine the length of the track in the running event. The competition itself, and the facility welcoming it were named ‘stadion’. It was in the 8th century BC, therefore, that the first stadium originated around an athletics track shaped as an elongated ‘U’. Olympic stadium, which was extended as the games became more popular could hold up to 45,000 patrons at its peak. This was the beginning of a revolution that would soon capture Greece and the world. From the first Olympic stadium to modern

As opposed to larger curves seen on a running track today, it incorporates tight hairpin bends, as seen above. At its peak, 80,000 spectators were able to sit on the marble seats which surround its track, however todays capacity is reduced to 45,000 for health and safety reasons. Notably, Harvard Stadium in Massachusetts is modelled on this design. It is also a ‘U’ shaped stadium, with an open plan similar in style to the Panathenaic stadium design. Unlike the Panathenaic Stadium however, it boasts large steel stands to maximise capacity as opposed to solid marble seating. Harvard Stadium is historically significant as it is the first vertical concrete structure to employ reinforced structural concrete. Prior to this, reinforced structural concrete was used in horizontanal (flooring, sidewalks) design only. Lewis Johnson Professer of Civil Engineering at the university was responsible for incorporating the concept into the vertical structure of the building

Built in 1998 and later renovated, this stadium was built to host large European football games and competitions. The stadium is a great example of what a modern stadium aims to be – it questions our concepts regarding stadia and it acts as a focal point in the area. The primary designers were Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. The stadium is designed so that the main entrance is from an elevated esplanade. The roof of the stadium includes some of the latest technology. It has a roller blind system which may be drawn back and forth during games to provide protection from the Sun’s harmful rays. However, the eye-catching exterior of the stadium is the biggest attraction. Seen from up to 12 km away in some parts, the external façade of the building is constructed of ETFE foil air panels. Each panel can be independently lit with blue, red or white light. This creates a magnificient sight, especially at night time, and exemplifies how far stadium design has progressed through the 20th