Cabe鈥檚 critique of the 2012 venues has given the thumbs-up to the Olympic stadium design, but slammed the bridges that surround it.

HOK Sport鈥檚 much-maligned 鈥淰ol-au-vent鈥� stadium has found an ally in Cabe鈥檚 Olympic design review panel, which said the scheme has 鈥渢he potential to be a visually exciting and elegant piece of architecture and engineering鈥�.

However, the review panel labelled Arup and Allies and Morrison鈥檚 bridges leading to the stadium and aquatics centre as 鈥渇unctional engineering solutions lacking in Olympic spirit鈥�.

The panel applauded Zaha Hadid鈥檚 鈥渉ighly accomplished鈥� aquatics centre, but warned that considerate detailing of its complex curvilinear roof 鈥� which has been subject to a number of redesigns 鈥� was 鈥渃ritical鈥�.

The panel also criticised disabled access to the aquatics centre, noting that gradients and sight lines may disadvantage wheelchair users. It said: 鈥淲e鈥檇 expect a paralympic venue to positively discriminate for wheelchair users and provide adequate accessible seating.鈥�

Of the masterplan for the park, by EDAW and Allies and Morrison, the review said: 鈥淭he methodology is robust and the design principles, which we broadly support, are clear.鈥�

The panel is chaired by Paul Finch, editor of Architectural Review, and includes Patrick Clarke of Llewelyn Davies Yeang, Glenn Howells, Steve McGuckin of Land Securities, Pankaj Patel of Patel Taylor, Lord Rogers, Bill Taylor of Hopkins Architects, David West of Studio Egret West, and Stephen Witherford of Witherford Watson Mann Architects.

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