The woven steel nest — where structure becomes spectacle
Stadium at Beijing, China.
Featured in Herzog & de Meuron's definitive monograph, Herzog & de Meuron: Natural History.
Visitor Guide
Visit at night when the stadium is illuminated red — the steel lattice glows. The Olympic Park surrounding it is impressive for scale. Go inside if events allow.
From the Olympic Park central axis with the Water Cube visible alongside. At night from across the lake for reflections. Close-up for the chaotic steel weave detail.
Open to visitors when no events are scheduled. Moderate entry fee. The surrounding Olympic Park is free.
Herzog & de Meuron designed the random-looking steel lattice to also serve as the structure — the chaos is calculated. Ai Weiwei was the artistic consultant. The original retractable roof was cut from the design for cost and engineering reasons.
1-1.5 hours
Design & Structure
Herzog & de Meuron with Arup. The "random" steel lattice was generated by superimposing the structural frame with a secondary system of non-structural members. The visual chaos is actually two ordered systems overlaid — the structure is hidden in plain sight.
Structural steel (42,000 tonnes), ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membrane cushions filling the gaps between steel members. The ETFE allows daylight while providing weather protection. The red color of the steel is fire-protection coating.
The lattice structure is a massive space frame — every member contributes to overall rigidity. Arup designed it to resist earthquake forces (Beijing is seismically active) through the distributed redundancy of the weave.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Beijing National Stadium?+
Beijing National Stadium was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. It is located in Aoyuncun Subdistrict, People's Republic of China.
Where is Beijing National Stadium located?+
Beijing National Stadium is located in Aoyuncun Subdistrict, People's Republic of China. Its coordinates are 39.9915°, 116.3905°.
Can I visit Beijing National Stadium?+
Beijing National Stadium is a real building in Aoyuncun Subdistrict that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.