China Unveils the “Water Cube”
January 29, 2008 - By Bobby Solomon - Category: Architecture & Music
Earlier today China officially announced the opening of the National Aquatics Centre, the giant, $143 million dollar center that will host the swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming competitions in the upcoming Olympic ceremony. The structure was designed by Australian architects PTW, and is made steel and over 100,000 ETFE pillows, which are only eight one-thousandths thick.
I think the soap bubble structure looks really great, but like article states, the bubbles need some scrubbing to get all of the construction grit and grime off it before it’ll shine. It will also be lit by night by a system of LED lights that can turn the whole thing any of 16.7 million colors. I just hope that they get the rest of the grounds in shape before August, because in the pictures above, it looks kind of gray and scary. Hopefully the next few months will give them all the time they need.
Bobby
Comments
If you've got something to say, keep it positive.what the hell is that twisted metal structure thing next to it?
that looks like fun too.
[...] Olympics will be remembered for one thing. The most exciting new sports architecture for years. Kitsunenoir has posted a wonderful photomontage of the new National Aqautic Centre in [...]
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The exterior doesn’t look as ballin’ as I thought it would be… Maybe it’ll look better at night? Inside looks gorgeous though. I love that they stuck to white. Maybe they shoulve’ kept all the seats white too…
I was in Beijing a year ago and the main stadium looks so cool from afar even if it isn’t completed yet. Can’t wait to see it when it’s all finished.
It very amazing, but I agree with Jason on the exterior not being good as I would have thought!
‘The Guardian’ has today a very beautiful picture of the interior taken with a fish-eye camera! You should check it out if you get the possibility!
looks like a giant mattress
i agree with patrick.