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Designed by nature (officially opened 01/28/08)
The Arup/PTW design, known as the 'Water Cube', plays on the geometry of water bubbles in a rectangular form. The structure's shape is specifically designed to work in harmony with the circular main Olympic stadium by the Swiss architectural team of Herzog & de Meuron Architekten with China Architecture Design and Research Group and Arup Sport London. Both are to be built on the Beijing Olympic Green.
There are two parts to the centre's structural framework - internal and external.
The external structure forms the actual roof and ceiling. This accepts the lightweight transparent 'teflon' known as ETFE pillow cladding. This face structure comprises a flat web of rectangular box sections bolted together on site. The building's skin, made from ETFE, has been designed to react specifically to lighting and projection. This state-of-the-art material provides a cost-effective cladding solution, enabling a wide range of applications where traditional materials, such as glass, may not be possible.
The internal steel space frame is based on the unique geometry of biological cells or soap bubbles. Arup based this 'soap bubbles' structural concept on a solution from two Irish Professors of Physics at Trinity College, Dublin. The benefits of this frame design, as well as looking like water bubbles, is that it is ideally suited to the seismic conditions found in Beijing. The system consists of three different steel nodes and four different steel members that will be fabricated from steel plate and bolted together on site.
As the building will be clad in ETFE cushions, it means that the solar energy falling on the building will help create a very efficient green house. This energy will be used to heat the pools and the interior area.
The question is; Does it fit the natural environment??
To my opinion design meets nature when the result of the 'piece' also suits the environment.
This is were, I think, the architect(s) / designer(s) should improve their working method.
Here the focus has been on the building totaly. Imagine this building on the moon! Probably less out-placed then in Beijing.
Form follows function, but when form doesn't suit the environment......?
Ego beats nature?
I do love the shape of the bubbles and understand the idea behind the building, but I think it is sold with the artists impressions you see here too.
See the difference between real bubbles and the ambitious project... Failed?
There are two parts to the centre's structural framework - internal and external.
The external structure forms the actual roof and ceiling. This accepts the lightweight transparent 'teflon' known as ETFE pillow cladding. This face structure comprises a flat web of rectangular box sections bolted together on site. The building's skin, made from ETFE, has been designed to react specifically to lighting and projection. This state-of-the-art material provides a cost-effective cladding solution, enabling a wide range of applications where traditional materials, such as glass, may not be possible.
The internal steel space frame is based on the unique geometry of biological cells or soap bubbles. Arup based this 'soap bubbles' structural concept on a solution from two Irish Professors of Physics at Trinity College, Dublin. The benefits of this frame design, as well as looking like water bubbles, is that it is ideally suited to the seismic conditions found in Beijing. The system consists of three different steel nodes and four different steel members that will be fabricated from steel plate and bolted together on site.
As the building will be clad in ETFE cushions, it means that the solar energy falling on the building will help create a very efficient green house. This energy will be used to heat the pools and the interior area.
The question is; Does it fit the natural environment??
To my opinion design meets nature when the result of the 'piece' also suits the environment.
This is were, I think, the architect(s) / designer(s) should improve their working method.
Here the focus has been on the building totaly. Imagine this building on the moon! Probably less out-placed then in Beijing.
Form follows function, but when form doesn't suit the environment......?
Ego beats nature?
I do love the shape of the bubbles and understand the idea behind the building, but I think it is sold with the artists impressions you see here too.
See the difference between real bubbles and the ambitious project... Failed?
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