The centrepiece will be a major public space that will welcome crowds to the south of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the Games.

Sitting between the Aquatics Centre, the Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the 2012 Gardens, this space will have a visitor centre, water features, imaginative play facilities and host a range of diverse festivals and performances, officials from the OPLC revealed.

The shortlist is made up of:

* Paris firm Agence Ter, in collaboration with architects Heneghan Peng from Ireland, engineering consultants Buro Happold, engineering consultants ARUP, lighting designers Bartenbach LichtLabor from Austria and quantity surveyors Gardiner & Theobald

* London firm Gustafson Porter in collaboration with Irish architect Niall McLaughlin, engineers ARUP and quantity surveyors Davis Langdon from Australia

* James Corner Field Operations in collaboration with engineers ARUP, Make Architects, identity and graphics by tomato, planting and horticulture by Dutch firm Piet Oudolf, lighting designers and consultants L'Observatoire International from ew York, events and live activity planning by Groundbreaking, play consultants Playlink and quantity surveyors Deloitte (design pictured above)

* Ken Smith Landscape Architect in collaboration with Michael Maltzan Architecture from California, civil, structural and sustainable engineers Buro Happold, landscape designer Piet Oudolf, public space programme and management ETM associates from New Jersey and cost consultant, design project manager, specification consultant Davis Langdon (design pictured below)

* Dutch company West 8 in collaboration with architect Benthem Crouwel Architekten BV bna - another firm from the Netherlands - engineer Buro Happold, and quantity surveyor Davis Langdon



The OPLC launched a competition in July this year with five teams then shortlisted to develop a design concept, which will be judged by an expert panel with a winning design announced in December.

Public exhibitions are being held to showcase the shortlisted designs, which were selected from more than 100 entries from across Europe, Asia and North America.

The remit was to create a distinctive area that will bring together a vibrant mix of cultural events, beautiful spaces and recreational uses.

A separate competition is being held to design an area which will be set within the north of the Park.

This will include one of London's best playgrounds and a visitor centre with a café and seating terrace, along with large indoor space for community use.

"With millions of people expected to visit the Park each year, this will be London's newest and most exciting public space, welcoming the world to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park," said Andrew Altman, chief executive of the OPLC. 

"The Olympic Park Legacy Company is mobilising plans at pace for the development of the Olympic Park after the 2012 Games.

"Plans are more advanced than any previous host Olympic City to deliver an exciting mix of new homes, jobs, leisure and business opportunities."

To see all five designs click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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September 2011: OPLC design competition shortlists 10 teams to create new public spaces after London 2012 
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