China won the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympics after overcoming political worries, environmental concerns and a knockdown-drag-out fight with Paris. China declared of Paris that "certain urban areas leave something to be desired when it comes to cleanliness. In particular, errant dogs and rabid dogs are increasingly numerous." Claude Bebear, the head of the Paris Olympic bid committee, shot back with "dogs are dogs...they do the same thing everywhere... It's just that there are no dogs in China - because they eat them." BURN!
So after that flame war, there's no way in hell China's going to let a little thing like water ruin the opening-day festivities: They've had some success in preventing light rain, as we've previously reported.
But at the same time that China is attempting to stop H2O from falling from the sky, they've also constructed a groundbreaking structure inspired by water bubbles (pictured above). The Beijing National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube, as it's affectionately called, is covered in 100,000 square meters of iridescent, Teflon-like plastic called ETFE. ETFE is only 0.08 of an inch think, but it can hold up to 300 times its weight. The Water Cube is said to mimic nature's way of filling space most efficiently — with bubbles — while also absorbing solar heat to warm the building and the pool. It's said to be one of the most sustainable buildings in the increasingly environmentally-aware China, who want to look good for the world come August.
Check a video of the building after the jump:
PTW Architects and Arup both helped design the $200-million structure, and in addition to solar capability, the Cube will 10,000 cubic meters of rain a year and recycle 80 percent of the building's water, which has an especially large impact in drought-plagued Beijing, which has less water per person than Israel.
The Water cube serves as China's flagship for their "green Olympics" campaign, which some analysts deride as mere propaganda or smoke and mirrors. But the Water Cube is at least a step in the right direction, and it looks damn cool.
Beijing said to have some success preventing rain (ABC News)
Add a comment