After the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium comes the ‘Water Cube’
Beijing yesterday unveiled one of its Olympic stars, an architectural gem designed to stage the swimming events at the Games in August.
The blue bubble-wrapped National Aquatics Centre, better known as the “Water Cube”, took four years to build at a reported cost of R1.35-billion, most of it paid for by donations from overseas Chinese.
The squat box-like structure — with three pools below ground level — is made up of a steel skeleton sheathed in a Teflon-like plastic that resembles bubbling water and gives the venue its name.
The structure was designed by an Australian consortium and work started on it 2003.
It stands in contrast to the other key Olympic venue close by — the National Stadium or “Birds Nest”, a curved structure made up of interlocking beams that is scheduled for opening in April or May.
“I am moved and proud,” said Li Aiqing, president of Beijing’s state- owned Asset ManagementCompany , which owns the Water Cube, at an opening ceremony.
“This was a very ambitious project in terms of the construction technology, and a most difficult construction challenge.”The eco-friendly structure’s translucent shell allows in sunlight, providing heat and light — and cutting energy use by up to 30percent, according to the Beijing Olympic organising committee.
However, China’s notoriously poor air quality was evident at the ceremony. Parts of the high-tech shell were covered by a film of grit while grime could be seen in the interior membrane of the roof.
“It’s a bit dirty because of all the construction work around it,” said Li. “But it will be fine after a clean-up.”
The 17000-seat venue will host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo during the August 8-24 Games and 42 gold medals will be awarded there. It has a 3m deep competition pool, a warm-up pool and a diving pool.
From Thursday, it will stage the six-day China Open, a competition that will serve as a test of the venue ahead of the Olympics.
Olympic organisers have built or refurbished 37 venues, 31 of them in Beijing, which will stage the 28 sports during the Games.
More than half the Beijing venues, including the Water Cube, are concentrated in one small area in the north of the city known as the Olympic Green.
Beijing yesterday unveiled one of its Olympic stars, an architectural gem designed to stage the swimming events at the Games in August.
The blue bubble-wrapped National Aquatics Centre, better known as the “Water Cube”, took four years to build at a reported cost of R1.35-billion, most of it paid for by donations from overseas Chinese.
The squat box-like structure — with three pools below ground level — is made up of a steel skeleton sheathed in a Teflon-like plastic that resembles bubbling water and gives the venue its name.
The structure was designed by an Australian consortium and work started on it 2003.
It stands in contrast to the other key Olympic venue close by — the National Stadium or “Birds Nest”, a curved structure made up of interlocking beams that is scheduled for opening in April or May.
“I am moved and proud,” said Li Aiqing, president of Beijing’s state- owned Asset ManagementCompany , which owns the Water Cube, at an opening ceremony.
“This was a very ambitious project in terms of the construction technology, and a most difficult construction challenge.”The eco-friendly structure’s translucent shell allows in sunlight, providing heat and light — and cutting energy use by up to 30percent, according to the Beijing Olympic organising committee.
However, China’s notoriously poor air quality was evident at the ceremony. Parts of the high-tech shell were covered by a film of grit while grime could be seen in the interior membrane of the roof.
“It’s a bit dirty because of all the construction work around it,” said Li. “But it will be fine after a clean-up.”
The 17000-seat venue will host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo during the August 8-24 Games and 42 gold medals will be awarded there. It has a 3m deep competition pool, a warm-up pool and a diving pool.
From Thursday, it will stage the six-day China Open, a competition that will serve as a test of the venue ahead of the Olympics.
Olympic organisers have built or refurbished 37 venues, 31 of them in Beijing, which will stage the 28 sports during the Games.
More than half the Beijing venues, including the Water Cube, are concentrated in one small area in the north of the city known as the Olympic Green.
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