Beijing Olympic 2008 Arena – Only an idiot would have said no!

August 7, 2008 · Filed Under Architecture Rumbling · Comment
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The Olympic fever is back again, it has the potential to be the most successful or possibly the most polluted Olympic host city in history. Unlike other Olympic games throughout the history, Jacques Herzog’s arena will be the world’s most famous arena because of its uniqueness.

The structure is so unique that it is one of the government’s favorite projects to the extent that the arena is already being depicted on currency.

The National Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, is lit by coloured lights at the Olympic Green in Beijing July 23, 2008. Copyright: REUTERS/Jason Lee, image Source: Spiegel

Now, we know about Tibet, the Muslim separatist movement on the western side of China, and not to mention Taiwan. Is it a must for architects to display some sort of moral or ethical awareness when it comes to dealing with regime like China that has no respect for human rights?

Star architect Jacques Herzog, the man behind the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing, tells SPIEGEL his arena is a subversive place where people can meet in locations not easily monitored by officials. He also defends his decision to build for a regime criticized for human rights violations.

Herzog’s said “Only an idiot — and not a person who thinks in moral terms would have turned down this opportunity — would have said no.” Read the interview on Herzog on building Beijing’s Olympic Stadium

I’m with Herzog on this one, screw human rights, let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. Guantanamo Bay? Iraq? Vietnam Orange Agent?