The National Aquatics Center, also known as the 'Water Cube', is one of the most dramatic and exciting sporting venues constructed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 

The 17,000-seat venue with five swimming pools needed to respond to Beijing’s particular requirements – protection from seismic events and sensitivity to its frequent water shortages. But it also was to have a design worthy of its historic origins in the Olympic year. 

Arup’s designers and structural engineers came up with a design for the walls inspired by the natural formation of soap bubbles, a unique geometry that was both highly repetitive and buildable, yet which appears pleasingly random and organic. With Ethyl tetrofluoroethylene (ETFE) used for the cladding, Arup designed the building to be sustainable, well-lit and seismically resistant. 

One of the most memorable structures built for the Games, the Water Cube won a slew of awards for its innovative and aesthetic design, including the Venice Biennale’s award for the most accomplished work in the ‘Atmosphere’ section, the MacRobert award for engineering innovation and International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award.   

Designing the water cube facade

The sustainability-designed Water Cube is clad with ethyl tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) that weighs just 1% of an equivalent sized glass panel. The bubble-inspired cladding lets in more light and is a better thermal insulator than glass and thoroughly cleans itself with every rain shower. About 20% of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within it and used to heat the swimming pools and the interior area. The translucent and recyclable ETFE panels ensure the centre is well lit during the day with up to 55% savings on lighting energy use in the leisure pool hall. 

Recuding energy consumption

To reduce the energy consumption of the centre further, the design has incorporated many energy recovery systems, such as heat recovery from warm exhaust air for warming up the cold outside air (fresh air supply). 

And since Beijing suffers from water shortage, water conservation was also central to Arup’s design philosophy. The firm proposed the reuse and recycling of 80% of water harvested from the roof catchment areas, pool backwash systems and overland flows. These aim to reduce the reliance and pressures on local receiving waters and the municipal water supply system by discharging directly to the sewer system. 

A view of the Water Cube in Beijing at night in the city
Bird's Nest and Water Cube become landmarks in Beijing.
The Water Cube, Beijing with people outside
The bubble cladding lets in more light than glass and thoroughly cleans itself with every rain shower.
Beijing National Acquatics Centre, The Water Cube exterior night time shot
Enclosed within the blue bubble walls are five swimming pools and seating for 17,000 spectators during the Beijing Olympics 2008.

The Water Cube’s breathtaking architecture is matched by engineering innovations in fabrication, materials and environmental management.

Dr Geoff Robinson

Chairman, MacRobert Award judging panel