I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our proposal won the competition. From beginning to end, I stayed with the project. I am committed to fostering relationships between a city and its architecture.

The quote by Ai Weiwei, “I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron’s invitation to collaborate on the design, and our proposal won the competition. From beginning to end, I stayed with the project. I am committed to fostering relationships between a city and its architecture,” reflects his deep belief in architecture as a meaningful and collaborative cultural act. Ai, a Chinese artist, architect, and political activist, discusses his involvement in the creation of the iconic "Bird’s Nest" stadium, a landmark structure built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

By referring to the stadium as an architectural project, Ai distinguishes his role from that of a traditional artist. He embraced the project not merely as a structure, but as a symbolic and functional part of urban identity. His collaboration with the Swiss architecture firm Herzog and De Meuron was central to developing a design that was bold, innovative, and reflective of modern China—an interplay of structure, culture, and international dialogue.

Ai’s statement that he “stayed with the project” from start to finish signals a deep commitment beyond just design consultation. His involvement highlights the importance of continuity and authorship in large-scale architectural works. While he later distanced himself from the stadium’s political symbolism due to concerns over China’s human rights record, his dedication during its conception reflects his belief in the transformative potential of architecture.

The closing line, about fostering relationships between a city and its architecture, encapsulates Ai’s broader philosophy. He sees architecture not as isolated construction, but as a living dialogue between the built environment and the urban population. For Ai, successful design must engage with public life, civic identity, and social meaning—ideas that have consistently shaped both his artistic and architectural work.