Every two years, the world gives itself over to a strange, temporary fervor. United by the thrill of competition and the spectacle of international pageantry, we suddenly become experts in obscure sports, aficionados on the finer points of uniforms, and devoted followers of human-interest stories about instantly minted heroes. For a few eventful weeks, the Olympics gives the world a single, glorious focal point. Behind all of this ceremony is a single organization: the International Olympics Committee.
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the roe is comprised of more than 500 professionals and an executive board that hails from more than a dozen countries. Previously scattered throughout multiple buildings-including an 18th-century chateau that still stands-the organization has now brought all of its operations under one roof, coinciding with its 125th anniversary. Located in Louis-Burget Park and perched near the shore of Lake Geneva, the recently-completed Olympic House is a $144 million, 237,000 square foot monument to the Olympic Games and its lofty goals.
With an organization as storied and symbol-oriented as the roe, every design decision on Olympic House would have to reflect its tenant’s mission. Brought to life by Copenhagen-based architecture firm 3XN, Olympic House is a sterling example of designing around an organization’s values instead of merely providing for its day-to-day needs. Core to the building’s form, layout, and construction are the roe’s values of flexibility, sustainability, and movement. Taken together, it’s a triumph of symbolic design.
The undulating glass form of the building appears differently from each angle, evoking an athlete in motion. The building’s footprint fills up its constrained park site without dominating it and cozies up to its chateau predecessor without dwarfing it. It’s an impressive trick for such a contemporary structure, which could otherwise appear alien or garish in its context.
The five-story building seems committed to easing its transition with its natural surroundings through sloping green terraces that climb to the second story and lawns that encircle the site. Its form manages to be simultaneously grand and deferent. From above, the building appears pinched in the middle, softening what could be an otherwise-imposing structure and creating inviting angles and creating as much natural light as possible for its inhabitants.
Inside, the office space is almost entirely open-plan, delivering on the Olympic value of flexibility and creating opportunities for interaction and collaboration. The entire structure contains only 14 columns, allowing for endless reconfiguration with the aid of movable partitions throughout the space and future-proofing the space by allowing for continual adaptation around working styles.
As one might expect from the IOC, Olympic House is an impressively sustainable building. It’s estimated to be Switzerland’s most sustainable mod rn Ii · ding, and with its LEED v4 Platinum certification, it’s also one of the world’s most rigorously-certified structures. On the roof stands an array of solar panels that recall .q the shape of a dove, delivering ten percent of the building’s required energy. Pipes carry water from the neighboring lake to heat and cool the building. And controls throughout the building allow workers to customize the temperature and lighting for their immediate surroundings.
The Olympic House is a potent reminder that buildings are not simply containers for organizations. At their best, they act as symbols, carrying out mission statements with their choices and subsequently encouraging their inhabitants to live out certain values as they go about their work. As the world looks to the Olympic Games for examples of the best humanity can achieve, it’s only fitting that its building should do the same for design.
The IOC’s previous headquarters-a grand mansion in use since 1968-signaled a certain historic prestige but also a kind of austerity and exclusivity. Olympic House boldly declares a posture of openness, progressive intent, and adaptability.
Originally Published in:
Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for you personally? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome weblog!
Thanks for the blog post, is there any way I can receive an email when there is a fresh update?
You are my breathing in, I have few web logs and sometimes run out from post :). “No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.” by W. H. Auden.
I am really loving the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility issues? A few of my blog audience have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any advice to help fix this issue?
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
I delight in, result in I found just what I used to be looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
I just could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my site =). We could have a link trade arrangement between us!
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
I gotta favorite this website it seems very beneficial extremely helpful
I discovered your blog website on google and examine a number of of your early posts. Continue to maintain up the superb operate. I just further up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Searching for forward to studying more from you later on!…
Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all important infos. I would like to peer more posts like this.
476903 196034Good read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was performing some research on that. And he really bought me lunch as I located it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! 698308
My husband and i have been really more than happy that Raymond could carry out his researching because of the precious recommendations he got out of the blog. It’s not at all simplistic to just possibly be releasing guides which often people today might have been trying to sell. We really acknowledge we have the blog owner to appreciate for this. The specific illustrations you made, the simple web site menu, the relationships you will help to promote – it’s got most unbelievable, and it is aiding our son and our family reckon that this topic is interesting, and that’s exceptionally pressing. Thank you for everything!
181850 400198There is an ending. Just remember that I meant for this to be an art game. I do feel like I spent an inordinate amount of time on the a lot more traditional gameplay elements, which may possibly make the meaning with the game a bit unclear. If you mess around with it though, you will uncover it. 132946
108081 838041Remarkable! This weblog looks just like my old 1! Its on a completely different subject but it has pretty much exactly the same layout and style. Wonderful choice of colors! 413411
8216 389094Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? Im kinda paranoid about losing everything Ive worked hard on. Any recommendations? 374605
great post, very informative. I ponder why the other experts of this sector don’t realize this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
I have recently started a site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
I am impressed with this website , rattling I am a big fan .
203545 437023I was examining some of your content on this internet website and I believe this web site is rattling instructive! Keep putting up. 958425
hello!,I love your writing very much! percentage we keep in touch extra about your post on AOL?
I need a specialist on this area to solve my problem.
Maybe that is you! Taking a look ahead to peer you.
My web site – tracfone coupon
Very quickly this web page will be famous among all blogging and site-building visitors, due to it’s good articles or reviews
Here is my blog post; coupon
I simply couldn’t depart your website before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info an individual provide for your guests? Is going to be again often to check up on new posts.
Glad to be one of several visitors on this awesome website : D.
Keep up the excellent work, I read few posts on this website and I conceive that your site is real interesting and holds sets of great info .
847687 55580We stumbled over here coming from a different internet page and thought I may well check items out. I like what I see so now im following you. Appear forward to exploring your web page however once more. 883190
194702 617755forty individuals that work with all of the services Oasis provides, and he is actually a extremely busy man, he 432825
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Reading this info So i am happy to show that I have a very just right uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I so much surely will make sure to don’t overlook this web site and give it a glance regularly.
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful information to work on. You have done a formidable process and our whole community shall be grateful to you.
Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
Hello there, I found your web site via Google while looking for a related topic, your website came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
This is very interesting, You’re an overly professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for searching for extra of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Some truly interesting points you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was searching for : D.
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your post. Crystals can provide support when you’re feeling down or stressed
해외스포츠중계Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand
Nice blog right here! Also your website a lot up very fast!
What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink to
your host? I desire my website loaded up as quickly as yours
lol