Officials in Brisbane, Australia, have revealed plans for 2032’s Olympic stadium: a $2.3 billion venue inspired by the state’s typical suburban homes, known as “Queenslanders” — residential architecture that may be familiar to fans of Brisbane-based cartoon, “Bluey.”
Digital images of the proposed stadium — encircled by a walkable platform evoking the Queenslander’s distinctive wraparound veranda — were unveiled Monday, as the Queensland state government announced the winners of an international design competition.
Set to host the Olympic and Paralympic athletics, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium is due to be built in the 158-acre Victoria Park, just north of central Brisbane. But with authorities previously ruling out a brand-new venue in favor of upgrading an existing one, the plans to construct a 63,000-seat arena in a heritage-listed park have met backlash from conservationists.
Local campaigners have also expressed concern about potential damage to a culturally and historically significant site inhabited and used by Australia’s Indigenous communities for thousands of years.
Following Monday’s announcement, campaign group Save Victoria Park described the renderings as “greenwashed computer imagery.” Its statement added that the proposal will cause “catastrophic loss of heritage parkland.”
