Architectural and Landscape Design
The Olympic Park is a symbiosis of built structures, topography, and landscape architecture, designed with short walking distances. The boundaries between interior and exterior, architecture and landscape, blur. These innovative approaches at the time led to a new design language that reflects the values of the late 1960s. It marks a shift from post-war economic growth and technological progress towards a human-centered architectural approach. This fulfills the UNESCO criterion that a World Heritage Site must represent an outstanding example of a building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that is significant to human history.
Human-Centered Design
Linked to the principles of openness and transparency, the Olympic Park stands for participation and self-determination. It was conceived as a deliberate counter-design to the monumental architecture of the 1936 Berlin Olympics – the architectural language of National Socialism – and serves as a symbol of democracy, freedom, and co-determination. The focus is on people. Architects Günter Behnisch and Günther Grzimek prioritized the human scale at every planning level, from urban design to detailed execution. Grzimek created what he called a 'Democratic Green' – a park landscape meant to be accessible to all visitors. There are no fences or hedges as boundaries; even footpaths were encouraged. The visual design by Otl Aicher still provides orientation throughout the park, regardless of language or nationality. In terms of housing, the Olympic Village focuses on the individual, offering flexible and diverse living arrangements that remain adaptable to this day.
The Tent Roof
The tent roof structure is part of world architecture and, according to UNESCO criteria, represents a masterpiece of human creative genius. It is unique in scale, transparency, and design. This pioneering engineering achievement unites the three main sports venues and responds architecturally to the hilly and lake-filled landscape. The roof is a masterpiece of lightweight construction, marking a new direction in 20th-century modern architecture. Its planning involved innovative structural calculation models, some of which were developed for the first time. Never before had a tent roof of this type and scale been realized as a permanent structure.
Use for Recreational and Elite Sports
At the time of its creation, the Olympic Park was a novel concept, and it remains unique today: an integrated sports, recreation, and leisure park that also serves as a venue for cultural events. It is an internationally recognized location in the heart of the city, appealing to a wide range of user groups and visitors. Long-term reuse was part of the original plan. The Olympic Village is considered a model settlement for urban living.
