Comments on: Watercube by PTW Architects

By: Alexis+Heidi

Alexis+Heidi — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:48:08 +0000

Whoo likes bu-bbles?……

Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo…

We like bu-bbles!………….

By: your mum

your mum — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:09:09 +0000

this is such a boring comment… but did the architect think about the climate of beijing – like it’s one of the dustiest cities in the world? Those bubble forms are going to collect gobi desert dust in about a week, after which it’ll look like something out of tatooine – more jabba’s hut that waterworld… the only way to clean it will be with a millino gallons of water, which china doesn’t exactly have a lot of. Let’s see how it looks next summer, after the olympic PR cleaning team have gone home…

By: r.n

r.n — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:48:36 +0000

When i imagine water do i instantly think of bubbles? Maybe dishwater…

By: achille

achille — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:45:45 +0000

it looks like an Ikea.

By: .o0

.o0 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:53:28 +0000

You should search for the story of the engineering. how complex is the structural scheme and how it solves some problems.

By: concept

concept — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:54:07 +0000

The WATERCUBE associates water as a structural and
conceptual “leitmotiv” with the square, the primal shape of the
house in Chinese tradition and mythology. The structure of the
WATERCUBE is based on a unique lightweight construction,
developed by China State Construction Design International
(CCDI), PTW Architects. & 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 3-
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. Unlike
traditional stadium structures with gigantic columns & beams,
cables & spans, to which a façade 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

By: MZ

MZ — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:19:13 +0000

I think the day view gives also the quality of translucens. It is transparenter as some fully glased offices towers. I have to agree, that the enterior is too simple and commercial. So it makes a Decorated Box, but a beautiful one. And the comparison to stadion: I find the swimming center more convincing.

By: Arch

Arch — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:14:56 +0000

Herzog and de Meuron’s ‘bird’s nest’ is still a stand-out. It should be.

By: Arch

Arch — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:11:36 +0000

The facade is soooooooooooooo aquatic-like.

By: GAILE GUEVARA

GAILE GUEVARA — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:58:12 +0000

Wow, amazing to see the commitment to iconic architecture … these are great examples of experimenting with interesting materials

thanks so much for the blog post!