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UNStudio design selected as the winning proposal for Sochi Waterfront

2021-07-22T08:59:00-04:00

An inclusive master plan for the Sochi waterfront by UNStudio has been announced as the winner of an international competition that will reshape the resort community with its second major construction boom in the past decade. The studio beat out other submissions with a sprawling litoral intervention meant to transform Sochi into “a place for all.”

Image courtesy UNStudio

The former Olympics host is known throughout Russia as a coveted pearl on a chain of Black Sea resort towns tantamount to the Amalfi Coast or French Riviera. UNStudio’s intervention will aim to integrate existing cultural and leisure industry destinations into the development in the hopes of strengthening the city’s claims as a haven for tourists.

Renders: ZOA, UNStudio

Per the architect: “The goal of the city’s future development is to make Sochi the most progressive and international harbor for culture, technology, health, and innovation and to enrich the life of a local community and visitor...

Will Sochi Olympics Architecture Win Gold?

2014-02-10T14:03:00-05:00

[...] I saw a Populous stadium in Hong Kong I liked once with these two big arches. And it opened from end zone to end zone. And so we started to go off of that particular path, opened up the ends of the building so that you could see the sea and the mountains. [...] And it developed then into what you now see as the stadium that is right there for the games.

For more Sochi-related news posts, click here.

Olympics deja vu: Sochi’s Fisht Stadium vs. AT&T Stadium

2014-02-07T17:15:00-05:00

Fisht reproduces Cowboys signature pair of arched trusses, and shares its bulbous, hump-back shape — albeit with a wave-like articulated roof of polycarbonate. What it appears not to share, at least from the images available online, is the sensitive way Cowboys Stadium hits the ground, slanting in to minimize its bulk. Fisht is a lot more ham-fisted, flaring out and surrounded by all manner of circulatory junk.

Cowboys Stadium

The Games Are A Great Party, But Not A Great Investment

2014-02-03T14:01:00-05:00

The Winter Olympics in Sochi are just a few days away. Russia has spent $50 billion on everything from construction to security, making these the most expensive games in history. [...] "I think one of the knee-jerk reactions has been ... 'will we be left with a load of white elephants?' " he adds. The answer from most economists who study the Olympics is: Yes, you will.

Populous’ Fisht Olympic Stadium for Sochi Winter Games

2014-01-30T19:14:00-05:00

Olympic stadiums are nothing new for Populous, the global practice known for designing some of the world's iconic sports venues. With the Sochi Winter Olympics a few days away, we'll give a little headstart with a glimpse into Fisht Olympic Stadium -- which Populous was selected to design in 2009 -- before it makes its debut at the Opening Ceremony.

For more details, head over to Bustler.

Sochi Olympic pavilion will transform into giant 3D portraits

2014-01-14T15:18:00-05:00

London-designer Asif Khan's pavilion for the Sochi 2014 Olympics is essentially a building-sized pin screen, capable of transforming its facade into 3D projections of visitors' faces. Khan designed the pavilion for MegaFon, the general partner of the Sochi Winter Olympics and one of Russia's largest telecommunications companies. Visitors can have their photo taken at 3D photo booths stationed around the pavilion and throughout MegaFon retailers preceding the games, and then watch the facade shift into gigantic portraits.

Khan also designed the Coca-Cola Beatbox Pavilion for London's Summer Olympics in 2012. Check out a test-run of the pin screen in the video below.

Jerde-designed Mandarin in Sochi marks first open-air lifestyle village of its kind in Russia

2013-10-02T14:09:00-04:00

Designed by international architecture and urban design firm, The Jerde Partnership, on behalf of Expo LLC, Mandarin is the first and only outdoor lifestyle entertainment center in Russia. Set within the country’s largest resort city, between the Mzymta River and Black Sea, Mandarin is a new town center of beachfront entertainment attractions for the nearly 100,000 Adler district residents, nearly 450,000 Sochi residents, and approximately 2.5 million annual visitors. In addition to providing an important celebration and gathering space during the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics, Mandarin serves as a vibrant, open-air entertainment village, a first to market concept for the local community, that will promote year-round activity and enhance the region as an international resort destination.

Jerde’s design fulfills the developer’s objective to ‘bring the world to Sochi’ with a mixture of top restaurants, fashion retail, casual eateries, entertainment venues and gathering places....

Putin's Olympic steamroller in Sochi

2013-02-07T11:44:00-05:00

"But now the Olympics is hell for me and for everyone who lives along this street. It is hell and we feel very bitter towards the government. Even if it is prestigious for the country to host the Games it is a calamity, a real calamity."

Daniel Sandford explores the disruptions, the preparations for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics are causing for citizens. People have been relocated to make way for the Olympic Park and other facilities, however they complain that they haven't been fully compensated. Plus, it is already become the most expensive Olympics ever, although it is argued that this is because the resort and all associated facilities/infrastructure are having to be built-from-scratch. Moreover, Dmitry Chernyshenk the President of ANO 'Organizing Committee Sochi 2014' argues "We are leaving a great transport legacy".

2014 Winter Olympic Stadium Will Have Crystalline Skin

2009-09-30T12:25:00-04:00

Populous

, a new venture recently spun-off from leading sustainable architecture firm HOK has unveiled its design for the stadium that will be the epicenter of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Although the plans are still hazy, the project will feature several sustainable factors including a shimmering crystalline skin.

Populous, a new venture recently spun-off from leading sustainable architecture firm HOK has unveiled its design for the stadium that will be the epicenter of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Although the plans are still hazy, the project will feature several sustainable factors including a shimmering crystalline skin. Inhabitat