Beijing National Stadium

Built as the centrepiece of the 2008 Olympic Games, the stadium became a new icon for the country and its capital, with seating for 91,000 people.

The near circular bowl was designed from the inside out, placing spectators as close as possible to the track and the jumping areas while giving good views and a full range of seating and facilities for the public, the media, officials and guests.

Its form is popularly known as the bird’s nest, an interwoven structure of steel twigs, a pattern also inspired by the crazed glaze of traditional ceramics found in local markets. Though it looks random, the pattern follows strict rules that define the geometry of the structure.