Archive for January, 2008
Monday, January 28th, 2008
The nightscape of the ‘Water Cube’
(Beijing, January 28) — The construction of the National Aquatics Center, or the “Water Cube,” topped off today. The “Water Cube” was built in accordance with a water-saving design concept to be a gigantic green architectural wonder.
The venue’s membrane structure, covered by ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) air cushions, is not only the first of its kind in China and the world’s largest and most complex ETFE project, but it is also an economical and water-saving creation.
The blue-colored “hubble-bubble” material is much lighter than conventional glazing structures with the same lighting effect. So the cost of its supporting steel structure was reduced considerably, said Zheng Fang, the top designer of the Chinese-side design company.
ETFE material made by a German company would have cost 400-500 Euros per square meter, but the same material manufactured through a joint venture was only 2,000 yuan per square meter. The conventional glass covering will cost about 500 to 600 Euro.
In addition, the “Water Cube” was designed with water-saving and environmental protection efforts. According to statistics, the outer surface and roof facade can “collect” 10,000 tons of rain water, 70,000 tons of clean water and 60,000 tons of swimming pool water annually. And the venue can also save 140,000 tons of recycled water a year.
Other environmental design efforts covered an air-conditioning system, surface water exploitation and ventilation system.
Posted in Sports-Venues | No Comments »
Monday, January 28th, 2008
The interior look of the ‘Water Cube’
(Beijing, Jan. 28) — The National Aquatic Center has a beautiful nickname — the “Water Cube.” This is an architectural building that literally embodies the water theme. The blue “bubbles” made by the ETFE membrane fully showcase the grace and sensitivity of water.
The design feature of the “Water Cube” is the “bubbles.” The membrane structure of the “Water Cube,” which is composed of more than 3000 pneumatic die cushion with a coverage area of 110, 000 square meters, is the largest in the world. The “Water Cube” is also the only public building that is fully made of a membrane structure.
The advantages of the ETFE membrane are numerous:
Each of the 3000 bubbles can resist the weight of a car.
The outer wall of the “Water Cube” is composed of 3000 irregular “bubbles,” which make up the ETFE membrane structure. The ETFE membrane has good ductility and crushing resistance. After aeration, every piece of membrane can resist the weight of a car. It also has good resistance against fire and intense heat.
The “Water Cube” can breath
Eight fans which discharge the air naturally are set on the roof and the body of the “Water Cube.” After fresh air enters the building, it can be discharged through the cavum in the roof. This is how the heating within the building is released.
The “Water Cube” can “wash its face” by itself
The ETFE membrane is self-cleaning in nature. Since the friction coefficient of the material is small, dust does not easily attach onto the structure. Even if dust does collect on it, as long as it rains, the surface is washed by rain water.
Posted in Sports-Venues | No Comments »
Sunday, January 27th, 2008
A bird’s eye view
Venue: National Stadium;
Location: Olympic Green;
Total land surface: 258,000 sq m;
Seats: 91,000;
Competitions: Athletics, Football;
Post-Games use: The Stadium is to stage sports events at national and international levels, as well as cultural and entertaining activities;
Groundbreaking date: Dec. 2003;
Designer: Herzog & DeMeuron (Swiss) and China Architecture Design Institute;
A night shot
The exterior
Seating bowl
The lobby
View from the plinth
The stadium in the sunset
The shopping center in the stadium
Entrance to the shopping center
The east corner
The green area
A bird’s eye view of the Olympic Green
Posted in Sports-Venues | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
Night view of the “Water Cube” (Photo credit: China News)
The photos taken on January 21 show the National Aquatics Center, also known as the “Water Cube,” illuminated for adjustment of the nightscape lighting. The National Aquatics Center will be put into service on January 31 as the competition venue for the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open.
Night view of the “Water Cube” (Photo credit: China News)
Posted in Sports-Venues | No Comments »
