'Water Cube ' Travel

Water Cube

Tags: water_cube, china, travel

Amy (12) from beijing (Contact Member) -

Located in Beijing Olympic Green, the Water Cube, known as the National Aquatic Center, is one of the three landmark buildings with the other two being the Birds Nest and the National Gymnasium. Covering total construction area of 65000-80000 square meters, the Water Cube has 17000 seats during the period of the Beijing Olympic Games, with 6000 permanent seats and 11000 temporary seats which has torn down after the Olympics. During the Beijing Olympics, it is the main venue for Swimming, Diving, synchronized swimming, Water polo. After the Olympics, it will be the biggest amusement park on water to public.

The” square box” is a combination of advanced technology and traditional Chinese culture. In ancient China, people had the conception of “the heaven was circle and the earth was square”. The square was the basic shape of ancient Chinese city architecture. Beijing is typical of the square conception, with the world-famous Forbidden City is in the shape of square, and the distinctive Courtyard homes are in square. Echoing with the Bird’s Nest in circle, they are representing the traditional Chinese culture and bring out the best in each other.

Chosen from10 international proposals, the Water Cube design was a crystal of cooperation of the CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation), PTW Architects and Arup international engineering group. The ground of the Water Cube was broken on 24 Dec 2003 and officially opened on 28 July 2008. The most eye-catching feature of the Water Cube is its ETFE clad structure with over 100, 000square meters of ETFE pillows that are only 0.2mm in total thickness. The ETFE membrane is translucent, which allows more nature lights penetrating into the inner with saving 30% energy every year. The membranes are easy to be washed cleanly by rainfall. Except its shape structure, the inner facilities are all first-rate in the word.

The Water Cube has created perfect environment for competition. Many athletes had fulfilled their dreams in the dreamy place, with 25 world records broken.

• China Travel

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