TheNational Stadium[3] (国家体育场, Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng),a.k.a. theBird's Nest (鸟巢),[4] is astadium atOlympic Green inChaoyang,Beijing,China. The National Stadium, covering an area of 204,000 square meters with an 80,000 person capacity (91,000 with temporary seating), broke ground in December 2003, officially started construction in March 2004, and was completed in June 2008.[5]
The National Stadium is owned and operated by apartnership company between Beijing Municipal State-owned Assets Management Co Ltd (58%) andCITIC Group (42%).[6]
Located at theOlympic Green in Beijing, the stadium cost US$428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firmHerzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study ofChinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of abird's nest. Leading Chinese artistAi Weiwei was the artistic consultant on the project.[7] The retractable roof was later removed from the design after inspiring the stadium's most recognizable aspect. Ground was broken on 24 December 2003 and the stadium officially opened on 28 June 2008. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be constructed to increase use of the stadium, which has had trouble attracting events,football and otherwise, after the Olympics.[8]
In 2001, before Beijing had been awarded the games, the city held a bidding process to select the best arena design. Multiple requirements including the ability for post-Olympics use, aretractable roof, and incredibly low maintenance costs, were required of each design.[9] The entry list was narrowed to thirteen final designs.[10] Of the final thirteen,Li Xinggang of China Architecture Design and Research Group (CADG), said after he placed the model of the "nest" proposal at the exhibition hall and saw the rival entries he thought to himself, "We will win this."[9] The model was approved as the top design by a professional panel and later exhibited to the public. Once again, it was selected as the top design.[9] The "nest scheme" design became official in April 2003.[9]
Why does a Chinese bowl or a Chinese window have this kind of pattern? Maybe the Chinese people like things to appear in this irregular way, but underneath there are very clear rules. The Bird's Nest developed in this way.
Beijing National Stadium (BNS) was a joint venture among architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron ofHerzog & de Meuron, project architect Stefan Marbach and CADG, which was led by chief architectLi Xinggang.[12] During their first meeting in 2003, atBasel, the group decided to do something unlike Herzog and de Meuron had traditionally designed. "China wanted to have something new for this very important stadium," Li stated.[12] In an effort to design a stadium that was "porous" while also being "a collective building, a public vessel",[11] the team studiedChinese ceramics.[13] This line of thought brought the team to the "nest scheme".[11] The stadium consists of two independent structures, standing 50 feet apart:[1] a red concrete seating bowl and the outer steel frame around it.[11]
In an attempt to hide steel supports for the retractable roof, required in the bidding process, the team developed the "random-looking additional steel" to blend the supports into the rest of the stadium.[11] Twenty-four trussed columns encase the inner bowl,[14] each one weighing 1,000tons.[9] Despite the random appearance of the Stadium, each half is nearly symmetrical.[15] After a collapse of a roof at theCharles de Gaulle Airport,[9] Beijing reviewed all major projects. It was decided to eliminate the retractable roof, the original inspiration for the "nest" design,[9] as well as 9,000 seats from the design.[15] The removal of the elements helped to bring the project under the reduced construction budget of $290 million, from an original $500 million.[9] With the removal of the retractable roof, the building was lightened, which helped it stand up toseismic activity; however, the upper section of the roof was altered to protect fans from weather.[15]Enerpac was granted the contract to perform the stage lifting and lowering of the stadium roof as part of the construction process.[16]China National Electric Engineering Co Ltd andChina National Mechanical Engineering Corporation lifted and welded the steel structure. Due to the stadium's outward appearance, it was nicknamed "The Bird's Nest". The phrase was first used by Herzog & de Meuron, though the pair still believes "there should be many ways of perceiving a building".[11] The use is a compliment Li explained, "In China, a bird's nest is very expensive, something you eat on special occasions."[9]
Construction of the stadium proceeded in several distinct phases, the first phase involving the construction of a concrete supporting structure upon the concrete foundations laid for the construction site. This was followed by the phased installation of the curved steel frame surrounding the stadium, which is largely self-supporting. This phased installation involved the interconnection of sections of the curved steel frame constructed in Shanghai and transported to Beijing for assembly and welding. The entire structure of interconnected sections was welded together as the primary means of interconnection used to assemble the entire surrounding nest structure. Upon removal of the supporting columns used for the purpose of expediting the assembly of the interconnecting sections, the completed nest structure as a whole settled approximately 27 cm to attain full stability before the interior design and construction of the stadium could be installed and completed.[17]
Ground was broken, at theOlympic Green,[18] for Beijing National Stadium on 24 December 2003.[19] At its height, 17,000 construction workers worked on the stadium.[20] Portraits of 143 migrant workers at the construction site were featured in the bookWorkers (Gong Ren) by artist Helen Couchman. On 1 January 2008,The Times reported that 10 workers had died throughout construction; despite denial from the Chinese government.[21] However, in a story the following week,Reuters, with the support of the Chinese government, reported that only two workers had died.[20] All 121,000 tons of steel were made in China. On 14 May 2008 the grass field of 7,811 square meters was laid in 24 hours.[22] The field is a modular turf system byGreenTech ITM.[23]Building the Beijing Olympic Field Beijing National Stadium officially opened at a ceremony on 28 June 2008.[24]
The2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. The cauldron that would burn for the duration of the games is pictured on the left hand side, hidden in darkness away from the spectators.
The eastern and western stands of Beijing National Stadium are higher than northern and southern stands, in order to improve sightlines.[25] A 24-hour-per-dayrainwater collector is located near the stadium; after water is purified, it is used throughout and around the stadium.[26][27] Pipes placed under the playing surface gather heat in the winter to warm the stadium and disperse heat in the summer to cool the stadium.[28] The stadium's design originally planned to have capacity of 100,000 people; however, 9,000 were removed during a simplification of the design. The new total of 91,000 was shaved further when 11,000 temporary seats were removed after the 2008 Summer Olympics; decreasing the stadium's capacity to current 80,000.[29][30] The farthest seat is 460 feet (140 meters) from center field.[1][28] Temperature and airflow of every surface were optimized to increase ventilation.[28]
Beijing National Stadium hosted theopening andclosing ceremonies,athletic events, andfootball final of the2008 Summer Olympics from 8 to 24 August 2008.[3] The stadium also hosted theOpening and Closing ceremonies and athletic events of the2008 Summer Paralympics from 6 to 17 September 2008.[3] Though designed fortrack and field events of the Olympics, the stadium continued to host sporting events, such as football, afterwards.[15] A shopping mall and a hotel, with rooms overlooking the field, are planned to help increase use after the Olympics.[1] Li stated, "This will become the most important public space in Beijing."[1]
Although ignored by the Chinese media, design consultant Ai Weiwei has voiced his anti-Olympics views and distanced himself from the project, saying, "I've already forgotten about it. I turn down all the demands to have photographs with it," and that it is part of a "pretend smile" of bad taste.[31][32][33][34]
Chinamen's andwomen's team has not played any matches since the opening of the stadium.
On its first anniversary, 8 August 2009, the stadium hosted a performance of the operaTurandot, and the 2009Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup) final, the traditional curtain raiser to the Italian football league season.[35] In August 2011, the Bird's Nest once again hosted theSupercoppa Italiana, the stadium's second in three years, and also in2012.
TheBeijing Guo'an football club was scheduled to play at the stadium, but later backed out of their agreement, citing the embarrassment of using an 80,000+ seat venue for games that routinely draw only slightly more than 10,000.[8][36]
In July 2010, the stadium hosted a friendly football match betweenFootball League Championship teamBirmingham City and Beijing Guoan as a part of Birmingham's pre-season trip to China, homeland of the club's ownerCarson Yeung. Birmingham City recorded a 1–0 victory in the game.[37]
Arsenal andManchester City played each other in the inaugural 'China Cup', a one-off match in Beijing's played on 27 July 2012. Manchester City won the match with a score of 2–0.[38]
On 25 July 2016 Manchester City were scheduled to meetManchester United as part of the2016 International Champions Cup. However the game was cancelled due to heavy rain soaking the pitch, poor pitch conditions due to fungus and the pitch being relaid with turf.[39][40]
On 22 July 2017,Arsenal andChelsea played against each other in a friendly match.[41]
After China became the host of the2023 AFC Asian Cup on 4 June 2019 which the stadium was originally intended as theBeijing venue, but CFA choseWorkers' Stadium on 4 January 2020 instead. However, on 14 May 2022,AFC announced that China would not be able to host the tournament due to the exceptional circumstances caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[42]
On 1 November 2010, theIAAF announced that the2015 World Championships in Athletics would take place at the Beijing National Stadium.[44] and the event will return to the same stadium in 2027.[45]
On 29 July 2017, the stadium hostedMonster Jam and theStadium Super Trucks, marking the first Chinese race for both racing series. Chinese driverLi Ya Tao was among the ten drivers competing in the Stadium Super Truck race.[46]
From 2014-2022, the finals for the Chinese singing competitionThe Voice of China, later re-branded asSing! China, were held at the stadium. The finals were usually held on either 7 October or on a Sunday of theGolden Week to commemorate the event.
On 12 January 2009 the venue's owners announced plans for the stadium to anchor a shopping and entertainment complex. These plans, having been developed by operatorCITIC Group, were projected to take three to five years to achieve. The stadium also continues to function as a tourist attraction, while hosting sports and entertainment events.[36] However, by 2013 the stadium had fallen into visual disrepair and was criticized as appearing rusty and neglected by visitors to Beijing.[citation needed]
The National Stadium was intended to be a Monument of New China, expected to be visited by millions of tourists and showcased through an array of media representations.[59]
In spite of the lack of significant events, the stadium appears to be quite profitable, drawing some 20,000 to 30,000 people a day at the price of a 50yuan admission.[60] In 2010 it was used as a snow theme park.[61] The venue costs approximately$9 million to maintain per year.[8][36]
The stadium was used for the opening and closing ceremonies of2022 Winter Olympics and2022 Winter Paralympics. It is the only stadium to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies.[8]
The Beijing National Stadium at night during the Summer Olympics
Inside of the stadium during the 2008 Summer Olympics
^abc"The National Stadium".Competition Venues. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Archived fromthe original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved27 August 2008.
^"The Engineer".Enerpac Helps the Beijing's 'Bird Nest' to Stand on its own two feet. 13 March 2007.Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved21 December 2011.
^National Geographic Megastructures. Beijing National Stadium. 8 April 2014.[1]Archived 27 November 2017 at theWayback Machine.
^"Bird's Nest welcomes rain".National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 29 June 2008. Archived fromthe original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved28 August 2008.
^"A green Bird's Nest".National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 22 May 2008. Archived fromthe original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved28 August 2008.
^"Boxes inside 'Bird's Nest'".National Stadium. The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 29 June 2008. Archived fromthe original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved28 August 2008.
^"孙楠演唱会圆满落幕 三儿女上台齐合唱".新浪娱乐 (in Simplified Chinese). 24 June 2016. Archived fromthe original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved29 January 2024.
^"18年梦想成真，薛之谦北京演唱会圆满落幕" [18 years of dreams come true, Joker Xue's Beijing concert concluded successfully].NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). 14 August 2023. Retrieved19 April 2024.
^"薛之谦生日派礼物 送7万名粉丝限定戒指" [Xue Zhiqian's birthday gift Give 70,000 fans a limited-edition ring].SYOK (in Chinese). 19 July 2024.
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