TATLIN NEWS #46

symbol means happiness, well-being and eco- nomic prosperity. From the point of view of construction, the concrete walls of the arena are wrapped into the grid-shape construction created by intertwining columns and beams, The grid-like arches support the roof made of a special light-transparent material in the mid- dle of which there is an aperture that is closed by the extensible structure. If you look at the stadium from far away, it resembles of a boat or an arc which sits on a small elevation. The intertwined construc- tion elements had a very different meaning in the beginning: a clear lattice, though not very crystal, which falls apart into several compo- nents: chaotic pattern of stands, beams and staircases, if you look at it from close by. This approach is justified from the point of view of scandal: stadiums are usually pretty dull buildings. There is a logic in that though: the main things should happen inside the arena. But in this case the architects decided to in- novate and they were right. This is a very for- ward-looking political decision to make the stadium not only functional bur esthetically attractive. First, the Olympic games will end soon, Second, the grid observes all laws of Eu- ropean architecture, which demands the com- patibility between exterior and interior and combination of contextuality and autonomy. And, finally, the third cornerstone was the con- cept of natural ventilation: Because the struc-

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