Taking control

The Velodrama is the favorite in the Olympics village because of its unique shape and beautifully architected curves. A panoramic glass ring of windows provides transparency, opening up the Velodrome and generating a direct visual connection between indoor and outdoor cyclists and spectators. Two curves, as with the Velodrome, is one quarter of the weight and materials of a traditional flat roof, making it much cheaper and lighter. The long stiffness of the bowl and curvature of the 13,000m2 roof balance the structure, preventing it from buckling. Unlike most stadiums, which have a large structure on the top, the Velodrome peaks in a minimal, sharp point; to create this sharpness the building is angled at 42° at its steepest point and 12° at its lowest. The roof is constructed using a cable system that can carry 20 times its own weight. The mechanical heating system, employed in the winter, uses an almost identical principle to the summertime natural ventilation system.