In the 1960s and early 1970s, there was great excitement. Almost 30 years after the last Olympic Games in Germany, then still under the Nazi dictatorship, the spectacle was to take place again in the land of poets and thinkers. The old stadium in Berlin, made of massive concrete and steel, was regarded as an absolute persona non grata. There was a strong desire to position oneself in clear opposition to the past, to distance oneself from the 1930s and 1940s.
Architecture was also meant to make a global statement: for the construction of a new stadium, that was simply perfect. Germany could thus prove on the world stage that the dark times lay far behind it. Something new was needed. And so the Olympic Stadium Munich came into being. No massive concrete blocks. No heavy steel roofs. Instead, transparent glass surfaces, flowing forms, and a roof that seems to float.
In this blog post, we take a closer look at how this extraordinary structure came to be. An architectural revolution and at the same time a technical masterpiece – true engineering skill. Join us in the construction industry at the end of the 20th century. Together, we set off into a new era of architecture: the Olympic Stadium Munich.
Construction industry of the 20th century: Heavy is safe
In construction, a very simple principle prevailed well into the 20th century: Massive structures are very stable. Spanning large areas with a roof meant a whole lot of material. Massive steel, many thick beams, and tons of concrete. Of course, it worked. But it neither looked good nor was it even remotely economical.
So why not build lighter? Light structures were considered risky. What if the structure ultimately collapsed? Public ridicule, reputational damage among experts: no one wanted to take that risk. At least until Frei Otto entered the stage of the construction industry. In the USA, by the way, there was someone who faced the same problem, only in high-rise construction.
Fazlur Rahman Khan also decisively challenged the prevailing system: massive means safe. Thanks to him, we have modern skyscrapers today. If you are interested in his story, feel free to take a look here: Fazlur Rahman Khan: Father of the Skylines .
The Olympic Stadium Munich: A new symbol for Germany
We already mentioned it at the beginning: the 1972 Olympic Games were very important for Germany. The intention was to consciously convey a different image to the outside world than during the Nazi regime. Openness, democracy, and transparency were at the top of the list. A classic monumental stadium was completely out of the question for this.
The office of Günter Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner, won the second invited architectural competition with an open, nature-oriented concept. However, the major challenge was the roof of the stadium. Here, Behnisch referred to works by Frei Otto that he had seen at the World Exhibition in Montreal. So he brought him on board right away.
Olympic Stadium Munich: From fabric model to reality
Even then, Frei Otto enjoyed an outstanding reputation when it came to unusually light-looking structures. He proposed building not on massive supports, but in tension. How was that supposed to work?
Together with other planners, he developed a concept that caused skepticism among many members of the public and also in professional circles. A visually floating structure made of tensioned cables and glass. Stability here does not come from massive beams, but is created by tensile forces.
Here, Frei Otto applied his principle of leaving the engineering to nature. He developed models made of soap films, fabric, and hanging nets. Because, something we sometimes forget in the construction industry, nature already shows us which forms are the most stable and efficient. So he let his physical models calculate the ideal structure – a small reminder: there was no structural analysis software back then. All the more important were such models.
The Olympic roof: A technical sensation
On June 9, 1969, construction began on what was unquestionably then the most spectacular stadium in the world. In addition to the Olympic Stadium Munich, which could be used for different events, an Olympic swimming hall and the Olympic Hall were also built. The buildings are embedded in the Olympic Park. The aim was not merely to create a simple venue, but a harmonious landscape, a coherent overall concept.
Green spaces, artificial hills, and landscaped ponds were bordered by narrow paths that deliberately did not follow rigid axes. Everything, absolutely everything, was meant to stand apart from 1930s Berlin. Particularly interesting in this context: many of the artificially piled-up hills consist in part of debris from World War II. From the remnants of old Munich, something entirely new emerged: a place of encounter.
So let us turn to the most exciting part of the entire complex. The highlight of the Olympic Park is undoubtedly the transparent roof. It spans not only the Olympic Stadium Munich, but also parts of the Olympic Hall and the areas connecting the two. This creates a very special effect: everything appears as a single unit. Here, the idea of democracy is reflected.
Olympic Stadium Munich: Structure of the roof system
The structure of the roof of the Olympic Stadium Munich is absolutely ingenious from the perspective of structural engineering. Differently high steel masts carry the main loads. When viewed in connection with the rest of the structure, they appear almost like trees. The huge network of steel cables resembles interlocking treetops, blending excellently into the artificially created landscape. Rarely has steel looked so elegant.
Perhaps you are now wondering: how does the stability of the roof of the Olympic Stadium in Munich come about? After all, it is only masts and cables! In conventional reinforced concrete structures, stability is achieved through compression on the load-bearing structure. With the stadium roof in Munich, however, those responsible relied on tensile rather than compressive forces.
The cables stabilize each other through this prestressing. When forces occur, for example due to wind or self-weight, they are distributed across the entire network. The tall masts then transfer them directly to the anchors in the ground. By the way, the method of prestressing steel cables comes from bridge construction. More precisely, Eugène Freyssinet was the first to have the idea of working with prestressed steel to make structures more elegant and more load-bearing. If you are interested in the topic, feel free to take a look:.
For the roof surfaces of the Olympic Stadium Munich, transparent acrylic glass panels were used. Unlike steel, these have hardly any self-weight and, in combination with the cables and masts, form an extremely lightweight structure. At the same time, and that was the key point, this system is also very flexible and easily withstands environmental influences.
Those involved in the roof structure
The planning and construction of the roof of the Olympic Stadium Munich was, however, a real challenge. Frei Otto supported the architectural office of Behnisch & Partner as a development engineer. But those were by no means the only well-known names working on this project.
In order to be able to implement the roof structure in the end, Fritz Leonhardt and Wolfhardt Andrä, who ran a joint engineering office, were among those added to the architectural team. By the way, we have already reported on Fritz Leonhardt on our blog. Feel free to have a look there: Fritz Leonhardt – Engineer Who Makes Concrete Float .
Everyone in this team of experts had a very specific task. Project planning was led by architect Fritz Auer, while Frei Otto developed parts of the roof. Otto used the trial-and-error principle for this. How did it all work? He kept making larger and larger physical models of the roof, and when the structure failed, he took a step back and started again.
Meanwhile, Andrä and Leonhardt worked on calculating areas of the roof using the first CAD programs. On April 21, 1972, the time had come. The roof of the Olympic Stadium Munich was completed, and even today this gigantic structure floats almost weightlessly above the Olympic complex.
Olympic Stadium Munich: Influence on modern construction
The Olympic Stadium Munich was meant to become a symbol of Germany's new beginning – and the plan worked. Above all, the roof structure became world-famous and inspired numerous well-known structures that followed later. Every major city wanted such a monument of lightness. A combination of prestige and art.
Another architect who specialized in flowing, almost floating structures is Santiago Calatrava. You can find out here why his major projects are repeatedly criticized and why he is now a persona non grata in his home country: Between Elegance and Escapade: Santiago Calatrava .
Ultimately, the roof structure at the Olympic Stadium Munich changed the way engineers should think. Material efficiency and stability could be combined. In addition, nature and architecture did not have to exclude each other; on the contrary – they could be combined excellently.
Conclusion: Olympic Stadium Munich
The Olympic Stadium Munich is far more than just a venue for sporting events. It became a symbol of the fact that new beginnings often require a good dose of courage. But in the end, it is worth it. Innovation in such an old industry as construction has never been easy. All the more impressive are the results when a new idea finally prevails.
Today, the Olympic Stadium in Munich is used for all kinds of events. For example, from 1972 to 2005 it was the home stadium of FC Bayern Munich. In 1974, the FIFA World Cup was held there, and in 1988 the UEFA Euro. Over the decades, the Olympic Stadium Munich was one of Europe's most important football arenas and definitely one of the most beautiful in the world.
The stadium also naturally lent itself to concerts with its spectacular roof. Over the decades, international greats such as Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Queen, U2, AC/DC, and Coldplay have performed there. But unusual events such as Supercross, motorsport shows, winter sports events, and other extreme sports events also continue to take place there to this day.
So if you ever attend an event there – or are just in the city – why not book a stadium tour? You can even take part in guided climbing tours on the roof structure. A very special experience. It gives you a unique impression of all the engineering skill contained in this construction project.
A building complex with innovative structures: the Olympic Stadium Munich has an absolutely unique history. Built for just a few weeks of the Olympic Games, it remains one of the city's iconic buildings to this day. In any case, it is truly worth a visit.