Water Cube

Watercube National Aquatics Center Beijing, China The Watercube associates water as a structural and conceptual "leitmotiv" with the square, the primal shape of the house in Chinese tradition and mythology. Architect Chris Bosse has sent us a series of photos of the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing - better known as Watercube - which officially opened on Monday 28th January 2008. The centre, which will host the swimming and diving competitions at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in August, hosted its first event, the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open, on February 4th The structure of the WATERCUBE is based on a unique lightweight construction, developed by China State Construction Design International (CCDI), PTW Architects, and ARUP, and derived from the structure of water bubbles in the state of aggregation found in foam. Behind the totally random appearance hides a strict geometry that can be found in natural systems like crystals, cells and molecular structures the most efficient subdivision of three-dimensional space with equally sized cells. The transparency and apparent randomness is equally transposed into the inner and outer building-skins, made of inflated ETFE cushions. The reason for different coulours is The reflection of light changes the color; outside it reflects the sky and the outer layer is slightly tinted in blue, Inside the white prevails, the sun coming through highlights the ETFE and the structure. Unlike traditional stadium structures with gigantic columns & beams, cables & spans, to which a facade system is applied, the architectural space, structure and facade of the Watercube are one and the same element. 90% of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within the highly efficient structural zone and is used to heat the pools and the interior area. Rainwater from the roof is reused, recycled and redistributed alongside efficient pool filtration and backwash systems. The design uses state-of-the-art technology and materials to create a visually striking, energy-efficient, and ecologically friendly building.

Conceptually the square box and the interior spaces are carved out of an unconfined cluster of foam bubbles, symbolizing a condition of nature that is transformed into a condition of culture. Together with the main stadium by Herzog & de Meuron, a duality between fire and water, Yin and Yang, is being created with all its associated tensions and attractions. The Project was recently recognized at the Venice Architecture Biennale for "demonstrating in a stunning way, how the deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture and phenomenology can create an airy and misty atmosphere for a personal experience of water leisure.” Bosse was associate architect on the Aquatic Center for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing while working for Australian architects PTW. He has recently teamed up with Tobias Wallisser to launch a new architectural practice called pnyg:LAVA. the laboratory for visionary architecture. Comprising a steel space frame, it is the largest ETFE clad structure in the world with over 100,000 m² of ETFE pillows that are only 0.2 mm (1/125 of an inch) in total thickness.[9] The ETFE cladding allows more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, resulting in a 30% decrease in energy costs.[9] The outer wall is based on the Weaire–Phelan structure, a structure devised from the natural formation of bubbles in soap lather.[10] The complex Weaire–Phelan pattern was developed by slicing through bubbles in soap foam, resulting in more irregular, organic patterns than foam bubble structures proposed earlier by the scientist Kelvin.[8] Using the Weaire–Phelan geometry, the Water Cube's exterior cladding is made of 4,000 ETFE bubbles, some as large as 9.14 metres (30.0 ft) across, with seven different sizes for the roof and 15 for the walls.[11] The structure had a capacity of 17,000[9] during the games that is being reduced to 7,000. It also has a total land surface of 65,000 square meters and will cover a total of 32,000 square metres (7.9 acres).[9] Although called the Water Cube, the aquatic center is really a rectangular box (cuboid)- 178 metres (584 ft) square and 31 metres (102 ft) high.[11] It cost £75 million (10.2 billion yuan). The facade of the water cube became so popular that there is now a one-to-one copy near the ferry terminal in Macau – the Casino Oceanus by Paul Steelman.

For centuries, thousands of designers have strived to thoroughly understand the foam theory, and today, we are fortunate to witness the final yet optimal results. Shenyang Yuanda Group -- the erector and executor of the world complicated membrane structure project "Water Cube" – will help you understand how the "Foam Conjecture" was turned into the reality. When plans for the Water Cube were first announced, nearly all architects studying the foam theory from throughout the world swarmed to the construction spot for instructions. At that time, Yu Lansong, project manager of the Water Cube for Shenyang Yuanda Group, said the Water Cube would be built with more than 3,800 air pillows, perfectly embodying Kelvin's "Tian Wen." "The installation of the membrane structure has no record-breaking progress in the European countries." Germany's membrane structure Allianz Arena of FC Bayern Munchen is built as a unified figure with a parallelogram overhead, while the roof of the Tropical Garden of Eden in England is built in a simple membrane structure. As the birthplace of the membrane structure, Europe has a 27-year history of membrane structure. In Europe, more than 600 buildings apply such a structure, while it's the first time for China to take on the challenge of constructing a building with the most complicated architecture technique in the world. How to perfectly connect such a "small space" of 3,800 air pillows has become a hard nut to crack in the execution of the Water Cube. For the external wall of the Water Cube, 3,800 ETFE air pillows were applied, covering up to 100,000 square meters of surface area, which will be the world's largest and the only public large-scale architecture fully constructed with membrane structure. Shen Bing, the quality inspector for the Water Cube project from Shenyang Yuanda Group said, "I've been in this industry for more than 10 years, and it's my first time taking on the challenge of such a new construction mode, which totally differs from the traditional way. In the course of construction, every progression is not made easily. Based on such advanced technology as GPS positioning and laser positioning, we have invented nearly 10 types of space fixing instruments, such as gradienter and theodolite, through our own innovation. Currently, we are applying for a construction patent." The Yuanda group brought to life Kelvin's ideal dream with its diligent hands, and Yuanda's installation technology has reached a new height of millimeter-level accuracy. Each of the 3,800 air pillows installed is

different in shape and size, while the same case for the tens of thousands of metal bar pieces is installed. The first membrane structure construction group from Shenyang, China has conquered the difficulties imposed by the world's largest and most complicated membrane structure. It has reached the peak of membrane structure construction.

China's Bubbly Aquatics Center Nears Completion 07.03.07 A solid block of water appears to have rained down on Beijing's Olympic Green. While most architecture buffs have been focused on Herzog & de Meuron's National Stadium -- dubbed the Bird's Nest for its curved shape and overlapping structural supports -- its neighbor, the National Aquatics Center, just might steal the show come opening day. Designed by Australia's PTW Architects, engineering firm Arup, and China State Construction Design International, the so-called Water Cube has a structural system unlike any other building. No wonder -- it's based on an age-old physics problem related to bubbles. Left: Bird's Nest or bubbles? The refreshing Water Cube rises in front of the main Olympic stadium in Beijing. PTW, Arup and CCDI won an international competition to build the National Aquatics Center with a design that resembles a heavy-duty block of flavor-free Jell-O.

Water Cube challenges One of the challenges encountered by the designers was convincing Chinese authorities of the value of ETFE. "The Water Cube was one of the two main venues for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics." There were a lot of myths about the use of ETFE, regarding the material growing mould and being ineffective in muting external noise, which had to be dispelled. PTW managing director John Bilmon and his team put the claims to bed by conducting extensive tests and making some adjustments to the material that would reduce the acoustic impact of outside noise. The material was also shown to be superior in terms of lighting and thermal efficiency,

and will protect the internal steel members from exposure to the harsh chlorinated aquatic environment – preventing their corrosion. The use of ETFE will help the building last for about 100 years. The transmission of light and strength of the ETFE membrane deteriorates far less than other materials. The membrane is resistant to fire and severe heat, and possesses ductility and crushing resistance. It is selfcleaning in nature as the friction coefficient of the material prevents the dust from forming a layer on the material and rain can easily clear away the dust. The building's envelope required 100,000m² of ETFE, making it the largest ETFE structure in the world. The ETFE used was produced by Vector-Foiltec of Germany and Yuanda Group of Shengyang, China. The venue's design as an enclosed swimming gymnasium could have led to high humidity. This was addressed by taking a new approach to the air conditioning system. A stringent temperature and humidity control system, and a recycled hot water system were incorporated into the design. These help to air-condition the public area and the swimming pool. Indoor and outdoor air recycling systems, solar energy systems and deck ventilation systems maintain a comfortable climate and humidity of 50%-60% in the venue. The designers also had to prevent dewdrop from the ceiling, which could affect the swimmers in the pool or divers on the springboard. The ETFE and air conditioning systems have partially helped to prevent dew dropping. Moreover, the building's air supply, return inlets and exhaust outlets improve the ventilation in the upper spaces of the building. Environmental considerations Where swimming pool systems usually pump water into the local wastewater networks as they backwash their filtration systems, the Beijing scheme runs the backwash water through a two-stage filtration system before returning it back to the swimming pools. This system is highly water efficient in the face of Beijing's sporadic rainfall patterns and potential low water levels. The equipment used for the water system was not the specific equipment originally suggested by the designers. Locally manufactured hydraulic equipment that met design requirements was used in its place.

The ETFE cladding lets in solar heat, reducing energy costs by up to 30%. The design of the Water Cube allows 140,000t of recycled water to be saved a year. The space between the air-pillow walls has been completely sealed off creating a layer of insulation. During summer, a 1m-high vent regulates the indoor temperature of the building through heat exchange by drawing out the inside warm air and letting in the outside cool air. The vent is sealed off during winter maintaining the warm temperature inside the venue. "The Water Cube is largest ETFE structure in the world." Construction At the time of design, PTW and Ove Arup envisaged the highly detailed structural members to be manufactured offsite and bolted together onsite, however a more traditional construction approach was taken by partners CSCEC. The roof and walls were constructed in east-west strips on site, which were then moved into position. This enabled work to proceed on the building and roof construction simultaneously while preventing the need for any cranes or scaffolding within the pool halls, which may have damaged the pool structures and finishes, but the approach, says Bilmon, may have contributed to the delayed completion date. The landmark building has been used since the Games as a multipurpose leisure and swimming centre that, as well as swimming pools, includes a gym, ice-skating facilities and a cinema. The Water Cube hosted the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events during the Beijing Summer Olympics 2008. The Beijing Olympics saw 25 world records broken in the Aquatics Centre. The Water Cube hosted sound and light shows in summer 2009 and became a ballet theatre to host Swan Lake. It was closed to the public for renovations from 15 October 2009.

*ETFE is the material. *ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) fluoropolymer available as pellets or as powder for rotational molding. *For its properties,pl. click on the following link:

http://www.texloc.com/closet/cl_etfe_pro… *pl. read bellow: 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-theart 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. Source(s): http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm… http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/pr…