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Water Cube

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Beijing National Aquatics Centre
Water cube, [H2O]3
The National Aquatics Centre, with the Beijing National Stadium in the background
Building information
Full nameBeijing National Aquatics Centre
CityBeijing, China
Capacity17,000
Architect(s)PTW Architects, CSCEC International Design and Arup

The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube (or abbreviated [H2O]3 [1]), is an aquatics centre that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ground was broken on December 24, 2003.

Architecture

The Water Cube was initially designed by PTW Architects [2], CSCEC International Design and Arup with structural Engineers Arup conceiving the structure. The structure was built by CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation). Comprising a steel space frame, it is the largest ETFE clad structure in the world with over 100,000 m² of ETFE pillows that are only eight one-thousandths of an inch in total thickness,[3] The ETFE cladding allows more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, resulting in a 30% decrease in energy costs[3].

File:Watercube3.jpg
The Beijing National Aquatics Centre while under construction

The structure will have a capacity of 17,000[3]during the games that will be reduced to 6,000 afterwards. It also has a total land surface of 65,000 square metres and will cover a total of 7.8 acres[3].

Olympics

The Aquatics Centre will host the Swimming, Diving and Synchronized Swimming events during the Olympics. The Water Polo was originally planned to be hosted in the venue but has been moved to the Ying Tung Natatorium.

Awards

The special award for the most accomplished work in the section Atmosphere is awarded to the Australian architecture firm PTW Architects, CSCEC + Design and Arup for the project National Swimming Centre, Beijing Olympic Green, China. The project demonstrates in a stunning way, how the deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture and phenomenology can create an airy and misty atmosphere for a personal experience of water leisure

— Quote from the Jury report of the Official Awards 9th International Architecture Exhibition - METAMORPH, Venice Biennale
  • 2004 - Venice Biennale - Award for most accomplished work Atmosphere section[4]
  • 2006 - Popular Science Best of what's new 2006 in engineering[3]

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ a b c d e Template:Harvard reference
  4. ^ "PTW Projects:Watercube-National Swimming Center". Retrieved 2006-12-6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

See also

39°59′30″N 116°23′03″E / 39.99167°N 116.38417°E / 39.99167; 116.38417

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