BUBBLING IN BEIJING - THE WATER CUBE

PWT Architects- Water Cube for the Beijing Olympics 

Can the experience of plunging in to the cool depths of a pool and being immersed in bubbling water, be recreated in a building? A trip to the  'Water Cube’ during  the summer Olympics in 2008, made the answer clear.

Yes, it can be done and has been done.

This unnervingly complex challenge was undertaken by the competition winners for the National Aquatic Center, a consortium headed by PTW Architects of Australia, and Arup international Engineering Group. The local engineering firm CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation), and CCDI (China Construction Design International) of Shanghai, brought in local know-how and expertise for the project with a timeline that was set in stone.

Researching the meaning and relevance of water to generate the design, Kurt Wagner, a member of the team from PTW, became fascinated with the molecular forms of soap bubbles and foam.

“We became interested in what a uniform structure, that occupied a three-dimensional space might look like… and we came across the original Kelvin foam on the web.”

The final product was a deconstructed cube. It composed of inflated pillows of a type of polymer known as ETFE, supported by a three dimensional space-frame lattice made of steel . This structure created a light-weight envelope that was radical yet practical. The interior’s light and heat would be saved by its translucency. Thus it reduced the overall energy consumption by thirty percent. 

The interior is as atmospheric as the exterior. It is  brightly lit, showing off its gleaming white minimalism to full effect. The night time lighting includes randomly but evenly spaced constellations of  recessed L.E.D.s. This adds to the sci-fi spaceship-like milieu.

The membrane appears slightly blue during daytime. But as night falls, this transforms completely, as the lights slowly change from cobalt blue, through violet to an eerie aquamarine. For the visitor, the building becomes a chameleon-like curiosity that he can gaze on as it changes its  color.  These bubbles enclose the 17,000 capacity public areas and swimming pools including the one where 25 world records were broken. 

When used for functions besides swimming, like water ballet performances, the tickets are grabbed by people who want to experience the high- tech former Olympic venue as much as the for watery spectacles.

The juxtaposition of the Water Cube next to the Birds Nest Stadium by Herzog & de Meuron  Architects, is no accident. It brings together the the ancient Chinese concept of the cube symbolizing the Earth and the circle representing heaven . And it does so effortlessly, in a completely modern landscape of the Olympic venue. 

Despite passing its seventh year birthday, the novelty of its handling of a visual metaphor and its ground breaking geometric form, will keep China and the rest of the world fascinated, decades after its made it’s first splash.  Sources Wikipedia- Beijing National Aquatic Centre PTW Architects Similar posts :  Liquid Architecture- The London Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid