Bird's nests and animated exteriors in a sports palace world

With millions upon millions of dollars spent on shiny new sports palaces here in the States, it amazes me how few are truly iconic. They are little more than expensive excuses for corporate boxes in an era of diminished design expectations.

Not so in Barcelona or Beijing.

Spanish soccer club, FC Barcelona recently announced bold plans for a major stadium renovation "meant to become an international architectural reference point for the 21st century." A bold claim backed up by cutting edge lighting and materials intended to create an iconic building adaptable to the needs of rabid soccer fans on one day, and other civic events the next day. The new Camp Nou Stadium is meant to become a landmark in a city already full of them.

Similarly, the Chinese have pulled out all the stops with their bird's nest design for the new National Stadium being built for next year's 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Throwing out the rules on how stadiums should be built, an inhabitat review explains "the structure itself is composed of a grid-like formation that serves as both structure and facade, integrating the stairs, walls, and roof into one cohesive system. Instead of form being dictated by function, [the] design effectively removes the distinction, making function and form one in the same."

Somehow both of these make Invesco Field here in Denver look very minor league. Don't get me wrong, I do get the value stadiums provide for cities like Denver. Their impact in developing a sense of community spirit goes well beyond the tax revenues they generate.

But, if you're already spending hundreds of millions of dollars, can't you at least make them look pretty?