Back Issues - Building the London Olympics, 1948

The last time the Olympics came to London was the XIVth Olympiad in 1948. Architect and Building News from 14 May of that year alerted its readers to the fact that 'no architect had been appointed; no professional designer or group is responsible for the setting and the visual side of the games'.

"Owen Williams had been occupied for two years with 'the provision of dressing rooms, lavatories and press facilities'"

However, the AJ of 29.07.48 tells us that Owen Williams had been occupied for two years with 'the provision of dressing rooms, lavatories and press facilities' (pictured above).

The AJ published a picture taken the week before (pictured below) of the 'temporary structure of tubular scaffolding and unpainted wood whose untidiness reveals a lack of care and imagination'. Astragal bemoaned 'the rough boarded partitions of the changing rooms (six coat pegs each)'.

The 'temporary structure of tubular scaffolding and unpainted wood whose untidiness reveals a lack of care and imagination'

The Games were due to commence with the rubble of bombed buildings still very much London's backdrop. Wembley Stadium was to be used for the athletics programme, but still contained a greyhound-racing track three weeks prior to the opening, before it was transformed using 800 tonnes of cinders.

Athletes were housed in schools and barracks, and were more likely to be disqualified for being professional than for taking performance-enhancing substances. On 30 July, Architect and Building News reported: 'Time will not permit the pool being emptied before the boxing takes place, which necessitates a "bridge" consisting of tubular steel cages dropped to the bottom of the pool, covered with sections of timber.' The Builder of the same date was more upbeat, choosing to feature the design and construction of the flame bowl (pictured below) and stating that 'the whole of the works have cost approximately £250,000'.

The 1948 Olympic Flame Bowl

If ever an excuse were needed for the Olympics to regenerate a city, London's austerity years were surely it. Yet sport was the focus, the games costing less than £750,000 in total. And it made a profit.

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