Friday, March 28, 2008

Water Cube- Swimming pool for the Olympics


After the Bird’s Nest Beijing has added another feather to its cap by building a Water Cube. The water Cube is an aquatic center where all the water related events like swimming, diving and synchronized swimming will take place. It is built right next to the Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green.

The Water Cube also known as the Beijing National Aquatics Center built by CSCES (China State Construction Engineering Corporation) has a very unique design and technology.

It has a membrane exterior made from ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluorethylene- a kind of plastic designed to have high corrosion resistance and can handle wide range in temperature) cushions which allow the light to enter the arena. The solar energy on the building helps create green house effect which in turn keeps the building and the pool warm and reduces energy costs by 30%.

The most interesting fact is that water used in the pool will not be wasted by running it into wastewater network as most of it will be recycled. The water will run through the filtration system before being put in the pool again. This has its environmental benefits.

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