# Water Cube

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The **Water Cube** (水立方),[1][2][3][4] fully a.k.a. the **National Aquatics Centre** (simplified Chinese: 国家游泳中心),[5] is a swimming center at the [Olympic Green](/source/Olympic_Green) in [Chaoyang](/source/Chaoyang,_Beijing), [Beijing](/source/Beijing), [China](/source/China).

The Water Cube was originally constructed to host the aquatics competitions at the [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics) and [Paralympics](/source/2008_Summer_Paralympics). During the 2008 Olympics—where it hosted [diving](/source/Diving_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics), [swimming](/source/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics) and [synchronized swimming](/source/Synchronized_swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics) events—25 world records were broken in this facility.[6] In July 2010, a renovation of the facility was completed, which included the addition of a 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft) public [water park](/source/Water_park). After renovation and adaptive configuration, the Water Cube also hosted the [2022 Winter Olympics](/source/2022_Winter_Olympics) and [Paralympics](/source/2022_Winter_Paralympics).[7]

## Architecture

In July 2003 the Water Cube design was chosen from 10 proposals in an international [architectural competition](/source/Architectural_design_competition) for the aquatic center project.[8] The Water Cube was specially designed and built by a [consortium](/source/Consortium) made up of [PTW Architects](/source/PTW_Architects) (an Australian [architecture firm](/source/Architecture_firm)),[9] [Arup](/source/Arup_Group_Limited) international engineering group, CSCEC ([China State Construction Engineering Corporation](/source/China_State_Construction_Engineering_Corp)), and CCDI ([China Construction Design International](/source/China_Construction_Design_International)) of Shanghai.[10] The Water Cube's design was initiated by a team effort: the Chinese partners felt a square was more symbolic to Chinese culture and its relationship to the [Bird's Nest](/source/Beijing_National_Stadium) stadium while the Sydney-based partners came up with the idea of covering the 'cube' with bubbles, symbolizing water. Contextually, the Cube symbolizes Earth, while the circle (represented by the elliptic stadium) represents heaven, a common motif in ancient Chinese art.[11]

Comprising a steel [space frame](/source/Space_frame), it is the largest [ETFE](/source/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.[12] The ETFE [cladding](/source/Cladding_(construction)), supplied and installed by the firm [Vector Foiltec](/source/Vector_Foiltec), allows more light and heat penetration than traditional glass, resulting in a 30% decrease in energy costs.[12] This choice was made in view of Beijing's goal of presenting a fully "green" Olympic Games, with zero net growth in total carbon emissions.[13] Likewise, the venue was also designed to "capture and recycle 80% of the water falling on the roof or lost from the pools."[14]

The outer wall is based on the [Weaire–Phelan structure](/source/Weaire%E2%80%93Phelan_structure), a structure devised from the [natural pattern](/source/Patterns_in_nature) of bubbles in soap lather.[15] In the true Weaire–Phelan structure the edge of each cell is curved in order to maintain 109.5 degree angles at each vertex (satisfying [Plateau's rules](/source/Plateau's_rules)), but of course as a structural support system each beam was required to be straight so as to better resist axial [compression](/source/Compression_(physical)). 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](/source/William_Thomson,_1st_Baron_Kelvin).[10] Using the Weaire–Phelan [geometry](/source/Geometry), the Water Cube's exterior cladding is made of 4,000 ETFE bubbles, some as large as 9.14 meters (30 ft) across, with seven different sizes for the roof and 15 for the walls.[16]

The structure had a capacity of 17,000 during the games.[12] It also has a total land surface of 65,000 square meters and covers a total of 32,000 m2 (7.9 acres).[12] Although called the Water Cube, the aquatic center is really a [rectangular box (cuboid)](/source/Cuboid) 178 meters (584 ft) square and 31 meters (102 ft) high.[16] The building's popularity has spawned many copycat structures throughout China.[17] For example, there is one-to-one copy of the facade near the ferry terminal in [Macau](/source/Macau) – the *Casino Oceanus* by [Paul Steelman](/source/Paul_Steelman).[18]

## 2008 Summer Olympics

Further information: [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics)

The Aquatics Center hosted the swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming events during the Olympics. [Water polo](/source/Water_polo) was originally planned to be hosted in the venue but was moved to the [Ying Tung Natatorium](/source/Ying_Tung_Natatorium).

Many people believed the Water Cube to be the fastest [Olympic pool](/source/Olympic-size_swimming_pool) in the world.[19] Over the course of the Games, 25 [world records](/source/List_of_world_records_in_swimming) were broken by athletes at the Water Cube, although all but two of them were achieved by swimmers wearing the controversial [LZR Racer](/source/LZR_Racer) [bodyskin](/source/Bodyskin) (which led to restrictions on the use of such suits being implemented by [FINA](/source/FINA) in 2010).[20][21]

## Post-2008 Olympics usage and legacy

After the Olympics, the Water Cube was opened to the public on select days of the week beginning in June 2009, and was also used as the site for a production of *[Swan Lake](/source/Swan_Lake)* among other shows. On 19 October 2009, the Water Cube was closed to the public to begin a renovation of a portion of the complex into a [water park](/source/Water_park), led by Canadian design firm Forrec,[22] promising "seven-story water slides and a wave machine, as well as attractions for the more land inclined such as shopping centers, cafes, and performance stages."[23]

The facility officially reopened on 28 July 2010, with the water park opening on 8 August 2010 (the second anniversary of the Games' opening). The renovation divided the facility into three pool areas (a main pool, Olympic "demonstration" pool, and a training pool), as well as the 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft) water park area.[24][25]

In July 2013, the Water Cube introduced a new LED light show on its exterior, "Nature and Man in Rhapsody of Light", by artist [Jennifer Wen Ma](/source/Jennifer_Wen_Ma) and lighting designer Zheng Jiawei. Its colors are determined by trending use of [emoji](/source/Emoji) on [Sina Weibo](/source/Sina_Weibo), which is in turn used to calculate the "mood" of the Chinese public [26]

In 2018, it was reported that the venue had achieved revenues of 124 million yuan (about US$18 million), and has been breaking even for years.[27]

## 2022 Winter Olympics

The Water Cube hosted the [curling](/source/Curling) events during the [2022 Winter Olympics](/source/2022_Winter_Olympics) and [Paralympics](/source/2022_Winter_Paralympics), a configuration nicknamed the "Ice Cube". After Beijing was awarded the Games, work began on renovations to the facility to allow it to be converted to a curling rink, including the addition of ice-making equipment and other necessary climate control and monitoring systems.[28][29][30]

It hosted its first event in this configuration, the China Junior Curling Open, in December 2019.[31]

## Awards

The special award for the most accomplished work in the section Atmosphere is awarded to the Australian architecture firm PTW Architects, CSCEC + Design and Arup for the project National Swimming Center, Beijing Olympic Green, China. The project demonstrates 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

— Quote from the Jury report of the Official Awards 9th International Architecture Exhibition – METAMORPH, Venice Biennale

- 2004: [Venice Biennale](/source/Venice_Biennale) – Award for most accomplished work Atmosphere section[32]
- 2006: *[Popular Science](/source/Popular_Science)* Best of what's new 2006 in engineering[12]
- 2008: [NSW](/source/NSW) Project of the Year award from the Australian Institute of Project Management[33]
- 2009: 40th annual [MacRobert Award](/source/MacRobert_Award), the UK's biggest prize for engineering innovation
- 2010: [International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering](/source/International_Association_for_Bridge_and_Structural_Engineering) 2010 [Outstanding Structure Award](/source/Outstanding_Structure_Award)

## See also

- [Chris Bosse](/source/Chris_Bosse)
- [Curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics](/source/Curling_at_the_2022_Winter_Olympics)
- [Frei Otto](/source/Frei_Otto)
- [Rob Leslie-Carter](/source/Rob_Leslie-Carter)
- [Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics](/source/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics)
- [Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics](/source/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Paralympics)
- [Timothy Schreiber](/source/Timothy_Schreiber)
- [Wheelchair curling at the 2022 Winter Paralympics](/source/Wheelchair_curling_at_the_2022_Winter_Paralympics)

## References

1. Sebag-Montefiore, Clarissa (2013-06-25). ["Mood Swings at Beijing's Water Cube"](http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/06/25/mood-swings-at-an-iconic-stadium/). *Wall Street Journal*. [ISSN 0099-9660](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0099-9660). Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["Beijing's bubble-wrapped "Water Cube" unveiled"](https://www.reuters.comarticle/idUSSP104153/). *Reuters*. 2008-01-28. Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["More Gold at the Water Cube"](https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/14/sports/olympics/0814-SWIM_index.html). *The New York Times*. 2008-08-14. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["The Water Cube"](http://www.water-cube.com/en/). *The Water Cube*. Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["National Aquatics Centre"](https://english.beijing.gov.cn/beijing2022/venues/beijing/202103/t20210316_2308897.html). *Beijing Municipal People's Government*. Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["外媒：9天打破25项世界纪录 水立方简直成游泳圣殿 -- 中国发展门户网"](http://cn.chinagate.cn/sport/2008-08/19/content_16273981.htm). *cn.chinagate.cn*. Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. ["冬奥百问 | 水立方究竟如何变成冰立方？-中新网"](https://www.chinanews.com.cn/ty/2022/01-24/9660711.shtml). *www.chinanews.com.cn*. Retrieved 2023-11-16.

1. Arup East Asia. ["The Water Cube, National Aquatics Center, Beijing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080604115637/http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=1250). Archived from [the original](http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=1250) on June 4, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008.

1. ["Water Cube - National Swimming Center"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083015/http://www.ptw.com.au/ptw_project/watercube-national-swimming-centre/). *PTW Architects*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ptw.com.au/ptw_project/watercube-national-swimming-centre/) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.

1. [Welcome to WaterCube, the experiment that thinks it's a swimming pool](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/may/06/research.science1) by Peter Rogers in The Guardian, May 6, 2004

1. WANG, HUAN (2003-12-25). ["轻灵“水立方”：解读北京奥运游泳中心设计方案"](https://www.chinanews.com.cn/n/2003-12-25/26/384700.html) [The Light and Elegant "Water Cube": Deciphering the Design Scheme of the Beijing Olympic Swimming Center] (in Chinese). China News Service. 方形是中国古代城市建筑最基本的形态，它体现的是中国文化中以纲常伦理为代表的社会生活规则。“天圆地方”的设计哲学催生了“水立方”，而这个“方盒子”又能够最佳体现国家游泳中心的多功能要求。

1. arup.com (2006). ["Best of What's New 2006 – Engineering"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921072321/http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2006/product_41.html). *Popular Science*. **269** (6): 84–85. Archived from [the original](http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2006/product_41.html) on September 21, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2008.

1. Jaivin, Linda (2014). *Beijing*. London: Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1780232614.

1. Ball, Philip (December 2006). "Science in Culture: Beijing Bubbles". *Nature*

1. [Beijing venues – National Aquatics Center](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7069401.stm), on BBC Sports.

1. Pearson, Clifford (July 2008). ["Projects: National Swimming Center"](http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0807nationalswimming-1.asp). *Architectural Record*. **196** (7). McGraw Hill. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080813094645/http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0807nationalswimming-1.asp) August 13, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 16, 2008.

1. [Barbara Demick](/source/Barbara_Demick). ["Beijing's Water Cube Still Drawing Crowds"](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-beijing-cube14-2009aug14,0,6430709.story). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Aug. 13, 2009.

1. [Casino Oceanus – The Unofficial Casino Oceanus Website from *www.oceanus.asia*](http://www.oceanus.asia/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110201204824/http://www.oceanus.asia/) February 1, 2011 at the Wayback Machine

1. Berkes, Howard (August 10, 2008). ["China's Olympic Swimming Pool: Redefining Fast"](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93478073). *NPR*. Retrieved August 5, 2015.

1. ["Goodhew demands hi-tech suit ban"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/7900443.stm). *BBC Sport*. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. Crouse, Karen (July 24, 2009). ["Swimming Bans High-Tech Suits, Ending an Era"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/sports/25swim.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved August 5, 2015.

1. ["Water Cube will close for renovation from October 15"](http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInformation/BeijingNewsUpdate/t1089220.htm). *eBeijing, the Official Website of the Beijing Government*. Retrieved August 5, 2015.[dead link]

1. "In Pictures: Beijing's Water Cube Legacy". *Architects' Journal*. August 19, 2010.

1. ["Water Cube set to reopen soon with a big splash"](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2010-07/19/content_11066091.htm). *China Daily*. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. ["Water Cube set to reopen, leisure park on way"](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-07/22/content_11033866.htm). *China Daily*. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. Korosec, Kirsten. ["China's mood in real-time"](https://www.zdnet.com/article/chinas-mood-in-real-time/). *ZDNet*. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. 邹, 松霖 (2019). "水立方：世界场馆良性循环的优等生". *China Economic Weekly 中国经济周刊*

1. ["Water Cube to be transformed for events on ice"](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2015-08/11/content_21578806.htm). *China Daily*. August 11, 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. ["Water Cube to be frozen into Ice Cube for Beijing 2022 Winter Games"](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/27/WS5c248d05a310d912140514fa.html). *China Daily*. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. ["Convertible curling rink for Beijing 2022 soon to be completed"](https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1082593/beijing-2022-convertible-curling-rink). *Inside the Games*. July 25, 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. ["Yearender: Beijing 2022 organizers move focus from construction to operation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191217174928/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/17/c_138637779.htm). *Xinhua*. Archived from [the original](http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/17/c_138637779.htm) on December 17, 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-31.

1. ["PTW Projects:Watercube-National Swimming Center"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060819090901/http://ptw.com.au/index.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.ptw.com.au/index.html) on August 19, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2006.(page in Flash presentation)

1. Lee, Ellen. ["Water Cube scoops the pool at project management awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923174333/http://www.arup.com/News/2008-09%20September/09-09-08-Water_Cube_scoops_the_pool_at_project_management_awards). *Arup*. Archived from [the original](http://www.arup.com/News/2008-09%20September/09-09-08-Water_Cube_scoops_the_pool_at_project_management_awards) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20100402072014/http://www.water-cube.com/)
- [National Aquatics Center (Water Cube)](http://www.arup.com/Projects/Chinese_National_Aquatics_Center.aspx) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160306181413/http://www.arup.com/Projects/Chinese_National_Aquatics_Center.aspx) March 6, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- [Science News article describing the design of the building and the mathematics behind it](http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/34283/title/A_building_of_bubbles) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120227191803/http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/34283/title/A_building_of_bubbles) February 27, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- [News and Project Information on the Watercube, Beijing](http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/watercube)
- [The Water Cube's creation process](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163241/http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?Index=463)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Water Cube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Cube) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Cube?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.