Is it true the whole venue is built on a raised platform of some sort to preserve the original grass in the park? Or something like that?
Does anyone have a link to more information about it? Or pictures of the building process? I’m wondering how far it is off the ground. 
No idea but that actually makes sense given where it takes place.
I’ve seen a lot of photos of the platforms. Silva Martin posted several on Boyd’s blog; I think Horse Junkies United or maybe Eventing Nation posted some as well. I can’t seem to link directly to any of the photos, but if you google around I’m sure you’ll find them.
Basically, all the stabling, the warmup arenas, and the main competition arena are on top of platforms that are about 2 feet off the ground. The platforms are held up by stout metal posts. They seem to be covered by some sort of rubber matting, then footing atop that. When it’s all dismantled the grass underneath will be in good condition.
Silva mentioned in Boyd’s blog that when up on the platform, she couldn’t tell that they weren’t in a regular ring on the ground.
[QUOTE=Kadenz;6469502]
I’ve seen a lot of photos of the platforms. Silva Martin posted several on Boyd’s blog; I think Horse Junkies United or maybe Eventing Nation posted some as well. I can’t seem to link directly to any of the photos, but if you google around I’m sure you’ll find them.
Basically, all the warmup arenas and the main competition arena are on platforms about 2 feet off the ground. The platforms are held up by stout metal posts. When it’s all dismantled the grass will be in good condition.
Silva mentioned in Boyd’s blog that when up on the platform, she couldn’t tell that they weren’t in a regular ring on the ground.[/QUOTE]
So were the stables.
Here’s one site where you can start
http://www.discoverhorses.com/discover-leq-blog/2012/07/24/olympic-equestrian-greenwich-park/
Maybe this is a stupid question, but … I understand how this will prevent the grass from being torn up, but how are they dealing with the fact that no sunlight is getting to the grass for such a long period of time? I’m assuming with the stabling, etc., that all of the platform structures are up for several weeks at least. Won’t that cause problems for the grass too?
my guess is it isnt the grass they are protecting, but the ground itself.
[QUOTE=mbm;6469834]
my guess is it isnt the grass they are protecting, but the ground itself.[/QUOTE]
Exactly! The policy was you could add but not take away. Meaning no digging, no holes. Greenwich is a “graded/listed” sight. This comes with a vast amounts of “no you cannot do that”. Like a grade two listed house. You may own it but you have to get permission to make ANY alterations to your own home.
Greenwich is a “World Heritage” site;
http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/a-world-heritage-site/
MARITIME GREENWICH
SHORT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site
Symmetrically arranged alongside the River Thames, the ensemble of the 17th century Queen’s House, part of the last Royal Palace at Greenwich, the palatial Baroque complex of the Royal Hospital for seamen, and the Royal Observatory founded in 1675 and surrounded by the Royal Park laid out in the 1660s by André Le Nôtre , reflects two centuries of Royal patronage and represents a high point of the work of the architects Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, and more widely European architecture at an important stage in its evolution. It also symbolises English artistic and scientific endeavour in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Greenwich town, which grew up at the gates of the Royal Palace, provides, with its villas and formal stuccoed terraces set around Nicholas Hawksmoor’s St Alphege’s church, a setting and approach for the main ensemble.
Inigo Jones’ Queen’s House as the first Palladian building in Britain was also the direct inspiration for classical houses and villas all over the country in the two centuries after it was built.
The Royal Hospital, laid out to a master plan developed by Christopher Wren and built over many decades by him and other leading architects, including Nicholas Hawksmoor, is among the most outstanding group of Baroque buildings in England.
The Royal Park is a masterpiece of the application by André Le Nôtre of symmetrical landscape design to irregular terrain
The Royal Observatory’s astronomical work, particularly of the scientist Robert Hooke, and John Flamstead the first astronomer Royal, permitted the accurate measurement of the earth’s movement and also contributed to the development of global navigation. The Observatory is now the base-line for the world’s time zone system and for the measurement of longitude around the globe.
Criterion (i): represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
The public and private buildings and the Royal Park at Greenwich form an exceptional ensemble that bears witness to human artistic and creative endeavour of the highest quality
Criterion (ii): exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
Maritime Greenwich bears witness to European architecture at an important stage of its evolution, exemplified by the work of great architects such as Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren who, inspired by developments on the continent of Europe, each shaped the architectural development of subsequent generations, while the Park exemplifies the interaction of man and nature over two centuries.
Criterion (iv): be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
The Palace, Royal Naval College and Royal Park demonstrate the power. patronage and influence of the Crown in the 17th and 18th centuries and its illustration through the ability to plan and integrate culture and nature into an harmonious whole
Criterion (vi): be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Greenwich is associated with outstanding architectural and artistic achievements as well as with scientific endeavour of the highest quality through the development of navigation and astronomy at the Royal Observatory, leading to the establishment of the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time as world standards.
COTH’s Olympic preview issue has a very interesting article about it, and yes it is entirely on a platform. :eek: As someone already mentioned, Greenwich Park is the oldest royal park and has many restrictions on it, and it must be returned to its original condition after the OG.
COTH’s article also felt this type of facility, because it can be put up and taken down, rather than build permanent structures, could lead to holding future equestrian events in locations not previously considered suitable venues.
perhaps the removable structures could be reused for future events - imagine a sustainable/re-usable Olympics!
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