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HAO / Holm Architecture Office and Archiland Beijing has won the 1st prize in the competition to … more

HAO / Holm Architecture Office and Archiland Beijing has won the 1st prize in the competition to design the Samaranch Memorial Museum in Tianjin, China. Juan Antonio Samaranch, the president of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001, devoted his life to the Olympic spirit. Throughout his presidency he advocated for reform and inclusion and was a strong supporter of Chinas bid as host city for the 2008 Olympic Games. The five interlocking rings of the Olympic Logo serves as the foundation for the buildings design. By re-arranging the rings and varying the scale we are proposing a museum consisting of two rings above ground and with 3 sunken courtyards. The two main rings serve as counterparts in the story of the life of Juan Antonio Samaranch. The first ring lifts and invites the visitor in through a public courtyard. This ring focuses on the legacy of the work Juan Antonio Samaranch did with the Olympic Committee and the impact it has had on China and the world. The second ring encloses a lush garden and focuses on the life and work of Juan Antonio Samaranch, serving as a memorial to his achievements. Together the two rings create a continuous loop taking the visitor through both the exhibition and memorial areas. The surrounding park design is designed with a total of 204 circles representing each of the member countries of the International Olympic Committee. The circles contain different program and landscaping creating a lush and varied park experience. The Samaranch Memorial Museum is designed to take full advantage of green technologies. Solar cells is designed to be installed on the buildings roof and geothermal heating and cooling will provide climate control. “ With the design of the Samaranch Memorial Museum we propose to merge two existing typologies: the memorial and the museum. This new combination allows the building to both honor the life of Juan Antonio Samaranch while simultaneously creating a place which focuses on the true legacy of the Olympics: creating opportunities for people to meet and celebrate across cultural and geographical boundaries.” Jens Holm, Founder, HAO Less