Etfe Roof Olympics Cube

The 4 000 texlon etfe bubbles façade is known locally as the water cube.

Etfe roof olympics cube.

The national aquatics centre also known as the water cube will be one of the most dramatic and exciting sporting venues for the beijing olympic games in 2008. The public s first look at etfe architecture may have been the 2008 summer olympic games in beijing china. Ethyl tetrofluoroethylene etfe was chosen for the façade. The design is based on the weaire phelan water structure geometry.

Using the weaire phelan geometry the water cube s exterior cladding is made of 4 000 etfe bubbles some as large as 9 14 meters 30 ft across with seven different sizes for the roof and 15 for the walls. The water cube of the 2008 olympics the world s largest structure made of etfe film laminate. Etfe roof at manchester piccadilly station manchester uk an example of its use is as pneumatic panels to cover the outside of the football stadium allianz arena or the beijing national aquatics centre a k a. Internationally people got an up close look at the crazy building being erected for the swimmers.

This material weighs just 1 of glass and is a better thermal insulator. The structure had a capacity of 17 000 during the games. Which was based on the natural formation of bubbles. Around 20 of solar energy is trapped and used for heating.

Australian architect ptw and engineering firm ove arup won a contract to design and build the 2008 olympic national swimming center in beijing. National aquatics centre water cube beijing olympics 2008 venue etfe bubble pattern façade architecture competition win 2003. What became known as the water cube was a building made with framed etfe panels or cushions.