Wat a Cube!!

The Beijing National Aquatics Center is no ordinary cube. I think it is a wonderful example of modern architecture and deserves the epithet of a superstructure.

To the less informed, The Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the National Aquatics Center and better known as the Water Cube is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

It is unlike any other sport complex.The name 'Water Cube' comes from the fact that the structure looks like it is made up by water bubbles.To get this effect, the building was constructed using innovative materials like ETFE(Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) rather than traditional materials like concrete and glass.This new material is what makes this structure stand out.ETFE is a type of plastic, developed as an insulating material for the space program by NASA.It also helped in making the building eco-friendly as it lets in more light than glass and also because of its insulating properties , it saves on heating costs as well.

The design of the building is also very innovative.The outer wall is based on the the pattern that is formed by taking a slice through foam.It looks simply amazing!!Dont believe me??Have a look yourself.


You can find more info about the water cube at it's official site.