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Water Cube

Venue: Water Cube;

Location: Olympic Green;

Total land surface (sq. m.): 65,000 - 80,000;

Seats: 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary;

Functions during the Games: Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronized Swimming;

Groundbreaking date: Dec. 24, 2003;

Water Cube, known as National Aquatics Center, which located in Beijing Olympic Green, it was mainly designed by engineers John Pauline and Toby Wong. It was built as the main natatorium for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Also, it was one of the symbol constructions of Beijing Olympics. The proposal of its design was from the idea of "Water Cube ([H2O]3)". “Water Cube” lies in two sides Axle Wire of Beijing with "Bird’s Nest", and both formed the City Symbol of Cultural and Historic Beijing.

The Water Cube had a planed construction area of 62950 square meters, and total construction area was 65000-80000 square meters, among underground area was not less than 15000 square meters, with the length 177 meters, width 177 meters and height 30 meters.

"Water Cube" adopted ETFE membrane first time, and showed "water cube" exactly. The outside of "Water cube" looked like a blue box, and its wall was like some irregular hubble-bubble. The material of hubble-bubble also named "polyfluoroethylene", which is strong, inoxidability, heating preservation and easy-cleaning. It can be used 15 to 20 years.

During Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, it was the main venue for Swimming, Diving, synchronized swimming, Water polo, it held 17000 seats, including 6000 permanent seats and 11000 temporary ones, the temporary seats will be torn down after the Olympics.

After the Olympics, it would be altered into a multi-functional center for sports, recreation and body-building, featuring a "water setting" to the public.

 

 

 

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