The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park represents the single largest addition to the public amenity in the Capital in more than a generation. The site of the 2012 Olympics is being transformed into London’s newest community with more than 8,000 homes, five neighbourhoods, three schools, three health centres and five international sporting venues set within 226 hectares of parkland.
Applied was appointed by the London Legacy Development Corporation, an executive agency of the Mayor of London, to update the pre-Games wayfinding strategy and develop an integrated system for the Park.
The strategy made six main recommendations:
To stitch the Park into the fabric of East London by using Legible London on connecting and through routes
To establish the Park signage as an extension of Legible London by using common information architecture and design standards
To implement a high quality and visually striking system that helps to define a sense of place and reinforces the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park brand
To develop a multi-media sign typology that meets the needs of the wide variety of visitors to the Park
To reduce the need for large amounts of signage by building upon the natural and architectural wayfinding of the Park
To create a system that could adapt to the phased construction of the Park masterplan that would not be complete until 2030.
Details from the prototype Monolith sign. The sign is made out of concrete, with contrasting smooth and rough surfaces which follow the geometric patterns of the brand.
The strategy developed a sign family of gateway markers, directional and mapping signs, venue signage and ‘wanderwalls’ – real-time digital installations called that described the offer at the Park. The visual concept
for the signs was driven by a desire to reflect the Park’s strong architectural landscape and use of materials. Signs were designed as bold monolithic forms created from cast concrete combined with glass panels and hard
wearing fixings. This approach created a number of challenges for the design team and required an iterative, experimental process with a concrete manufacturer, testing construction methods, casting, finishes and
fixings before a prototype could be considered. The final cast concrete Park signs will be installed in phases, in parallel with Legible London street signs.
for the signs was driven by a desire to reflect the Park’s strong architectural landscape and use of materials. Signs were designed as bold monolithic forms created from cast concrete combined with glass panels and hard
wearing fixings. This approach created a number of challenges for the design team and required an iterative, experimental process with a concrete manufacturer, testing construction methods, casting, finishes and
fixings before a prototype could be considered. The final cast concrete Park signs will be installed in phases, in parallel with Legible London street signs.
Sign family
A system of temporary signs was designed and installed for a six month period in lieu of the permanent system being developed. The temporary system re-used the 2012 Olympics sign products from the Games, vinylwrapped with new Queen Elizabeth Park information. The system was complemented by printed and digital maps available for download from the Park website. Further expansions will see the development of
wanderwalls screening real-time content from around the Park.
wanderwalls screening real-time content from around the Park.
Excerpts from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Wayfinding Strategy
