Smith, A. 2014. From green park to theme park? Evolving legacy visions for London's Olympic Park. Architectural Research Quarterly . 18 (14), pp. 315-323. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1359135515000056
| Title | From green park to theme park? Evolving legacy visions for London's Olympic Park |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Smith, A. |
| Abstract | The long time frames and complexity of urban mega-projects mean that plans inevitably change over time. Analysing the evolution of these projects allows the key factors that influence contemporary urban development to be identified; including the influence of shifting political and economic contexts. This paper examines the evolving conception of London’s Olympic Park: it identifies and accounts for key changes in the direction of this project. Although plans for the Park remained remarkably consistent between 2004 (when the bid was submitted) and 2014 (when the Park opened to the public), there were also subtle changes to the vision for and design of the Park. The research undertaken here identifies and explains one key shift - away from the original promise of large parklands and a blueprint for sustainability, towards a more bombastic, iconic landscape that is organised and promoted as a destination. This shift is partly explained by the evolving governance of the project, but it is also explained by the different priorities evident at different stages. In the early years (2004-7), the priorities were to impress the International Olympic Committee and to get a sceptical public onside. Hence, the initial emphasis on parklands and environmental sustainability. Later (2008-2012), the key priorities were securing income streams and financial sustainability. These issues are explored here using key ideas from geographical and architectural literature: including Sorkin’s notion of theme park urbanism, but also territorialisation and brandscaping. Through the detailed analysis of the London case study, the paper makes some important observations about the problems encountered when mega-events are used to lead urban development. The paper also highlights the challenges faced by designers and managers of urban parks; in particular the requirement for parks to be self-financing. Finally, the case explores - and helps explain - the contemporary obsession with iconic landscapes. |
| Keywords | Olympic, sustainable, mega-event, regeneration, tourism, destination |
| Journal | Architectural Research Quarterly |
| Journal citation | 18 (14), pp. 315-323 |
| ISSN | 1474-0516 |
| Year | 2014 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Accepted author manuscript | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1017/S1359135515000056 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published in print | Dec 2014 |
| Published online | 19 Feb 2015 |
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Smith, A., Osborn, G. and Vodicka, G. 2024. Programming Parks. How do Organized Events and Activities Affect the Inclusivity of Urban Green Spaces? Journal of Leisure Research. 55 (3), pp. 344-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2023.2210563
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Beyond the pale: fencing off parks for festivals
Smith, A. 2023. Beyond the pale: fencing off parks for festivals . Urban Studies. 60 (14), pp. 2763-2778. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980231160943
Festive Parks as Inclusive Spaces: Celebrating Latin American London in Finsbury Park
Smith, A. and Ertem, D. 2023. Festive Parks as Inclusive Spaces: Celebrating Latin American London in Finsbury Park. The London Journal. 48 (3), pp. 279-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/03058034.2023.2180861
Festivity and Inclusivity: Latino Life in the Park
Smith, A. 2022. Festivity and Inclusivity: Latino Life in the Park.
Festival City Futures: Reflections and Conclusions
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The Festivalisation of London’s Parks: The Friends’ Perspective
Andrew Smith, Guy Osborn and Goran Vodicka 2022. The Festivalisation of London’s Parks: The Friends’ Perspective. in: Andrew Smith, Guy Osborn and Bernadette Quinn (ed.) Festivals and the City: The Contested Geographies of Urban Events University of Westminster.
Introduction: Festivalisation as a Contested Urban Strategy
Smith, A., Osborn, G. and Quinn, B. 2022. Introduction: Festivalisation as a Contested Urban Strategy. in: Smith, A., Osborn, G. and Quinn, B. (ed.) Festivals and the City: The Contested Geographies of Urban Events University of Westminster Press.
Private events in a public park: Contested music festivals and socio-spatial justice in Finsbury Park, London
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The Social Value of Community Events: A Literature Review
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Events and sustainability: why making events more sustainable is not enough
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Staging city events in public spaces: an urban design perspective
Smith, A., Vodicka, G., Colombo, A., Lindström K., McGillivray, D. and Quinn, B. 2021. Staging city events in public spaces: an urban design perspective . International Journal of Events and Festival Management. 12 (2), pp. 224-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-10-2020-0063
Festivals, public space and cultural inclusion: public policy insights
Quinn, B., Columbo, A., Lindström, K., McGillivray, D. and Smith, A. 2021. Festivals, public space and cultural inclusion: public policy insights. Journal of Sustainable Tourism . 29 (12), pp. 1875-1893. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1858090
Sustaining municipal parks in an era of neoliberal austerity: The contested commercialisation of Gunnersbury Park
Smith, A. 2021. Sustaining municipal parks in an era of neoliberal austerity: The contested commercialisation of Gunnersbury Park. Environment and Planning A. 53 (4), pp. 704-722. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X20951814
The long-term implications of mega-event projects for urban public spaces
Smith, A. and McGillivray, D. 2020. The long-term implications of mega-event projects for urban public spaces. Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. 25 (10), pp. 2107-2123. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2020.1826934
Events in London's parks: the friends' perspective
Smith, A. and Vodicka, G. 2020. Events in London's parks: the friends' perspective. London Festspace. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3878727
The Tourist Experience of Heritage Urban Spaces: Valletta as a Case Study
Ebejer, J., Smith, A., Maitland, R. and Stevenson, N. 2020. The Tourist Experience of Heritage Urban Spaces: Valletta as a Case Study. Tourism Planning & Development. 17 (4), pp. 458-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1683886
Citizens’ attitudes towards mega-events: a new framework
Smith, A., Ritchie, B.W. and Chien, P.M. 2019. Citizens’ attitudes towards mega-events: a new framework. Annals of Tourism Research . 74, pp. 208-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.07.006
Justifying and resisting public park commercialisation: The battle for Battersea Park
Smith, A. 2019. Justifying and resisting public park commercialisation: The battle for Battersea Park . European Urban and Regional Studies. 26 (2), pp. 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776418767731
The making of a city: How Expo 88 changed Brisbane forever
Smith, A. and Mair, J. 2018. The making of a city: How Expo 88 changed Brisbane forever. in: Expo Cities Urban Change Paris BIE. pp. 88-100
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Smith, A. 2018. Paying for parks. Ticketed events and the commercialisation of public space. Leisure Studies. 37 (5), pp. 533-546. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2018.1497077
Beyond image: Imagined experiences of a destination
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Animation or denigration? Using urban public spaces as event venues
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Event satisfaction and behavioural intentions: examining the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games on participation in sport
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Olympic Experiences: The Significance of Place
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Urban Regeneration
Smith, A. 2016. Urban Regeneration . in: Olympic Cities Abingdon Routledge. pp. 217-228
The Co-Creation of Urban Tourism Experiences
Pappalepore, I. and Smith, A. 2016. The Co-Creation of Urban Tourism Experiences. in: Russo, A.P. and Richards, G. (ed.) Reinventing the Local in Tourism Bristol Channel View Publications. pp. 87-100
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Events in the City: Using Public Spaces as Event Venues
Smith, A. 2016. Events in the City: Using Public Spaces as Event Venues. Abingdon Routledge.
Olympic brandscapes: London 2012 and the seeping commercialisation of public space
Osborn, G. and Smith, A. 2015. Olympic brandscapes: London 2012 and the seeping commercialisation of public space. in: Poynter, G., Viehoff, V. and Li, Y. (ed.) The London Olympics and urban development: the mega-event city London Routledge. pp. 139-153
Exploring attitudes to edgy urban destinations: the case of Deptford, London
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Leveraging Sport Mega-Events: New Model or Convenient Justification?
Smith, A. 2014. Leveraging Sport Mega-Events: New Model or Convenient Justification? Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. 6 (1-3), pp. 15-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2013.823976
Destination images of non-visitors
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Prosuming creative urban areas. Evidence from East London
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Events and urban regeneration: the strategic use of events to revitalise cities
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Smith, A. and von Krogh Strand, I. 2011. Oslo’s new Opera House: cultural flagship, regeneration tool or destination icon? European Urban and Regional Studies. 18 (1), pp. 93-110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776410382595
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The relationship between major events, the urban fabric and social sustainability
Smith, A. 2010. The relationship between major events, the urban fabric and social sustainability. in: Manzi, T., Lucas, K., Lloyd-Jones, T. and Allen, J. (ed.) Social sustainability in urban areas: communities, connectivity, and the urban fabric London Earthscan.
The relationship between capital city monumentality and tourism in Valletta
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Exploring urban creativity: visitor experiences of Spitalfields, London
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Theorising the relationship between major sport events and social sustainability
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Spreading the positive effects of major events to peripheral areas
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Major events and sustainable regeneration
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Effects of low cost airlines on efforts to develop cultural heritage tourism
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Tourism and the aesthetics of the built environment
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A review of tourism policy for the 2012 Olympics
Smith, A. and Stevenson, N. 2009. A review of tourism policy for the 2012 Olympics. Cultural Trends. 18 (1), pp. 97-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/09548960802651377
Using major events to promote peripheral urban areas: Deptford and the 2007 Tour de France
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Monumentality in 'capital' cities and its implications for tourism marketing: the case of Barcelona
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Large-scale events and sustainable urban regeneration: key principles for host cities
Smith, A. 2007. Large-scale events and sustainable urban regeneration: key principles for host cities. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal. 1 (2), pp. 178-190.
Assessing the contribution of flagship projects to city image change: a quasi-experimental technique
Smith, A. 2006. Assessing the contribution of flagship projects to city image change: a quasi-experimental technique. International Journal of Tourism Research. 8 (6), pp. 391-404. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.586
Tourists' consumption and interpretation of sport event imagery
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The development of sports-city zones: an assessment of their potential value as tourism resources for urban areas
Smith, A. 2006. The development of sports-city zones: an assessment of their potential value as tourism resources for urban areas. Noos Institute Illes Balears Forum, Pre-Conference Academic Seminar. Mallorca, Spain 21 Nov 2006
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Reimaging the city: the value of sport initiatives
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The impact of sports events on city images
Smith, A. 2004. The impact of sports events on city images. 3rd DeHaan Tourism Management Conference. Nottingham, UK 14th Dec 2004
Barcelona
Smith, A. 2004. Barcelona. in: Barcelona and Catalonia: a fieldwork guide Sheffield, UK Sheffield Hallam University. pp. 29-66
An introduction to Catalonia
Smith, A. 2004. An introduction to Catalonia. in: Barcelona and Catalonia: a fieldwork guide Sheffield, UK Sheffield Hallam University. pp. 17-28
Sporting a new image? Sport-based regeneration strategies as a means of enhancing the image of the city tourist destination
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