The National Swimming Center for the 2008 Olympics is an absolutely cool building. Known as the ‘Watercube,’ PTW’s design is a basic box, juxtaposed with an organic ‘bubble’ structure that makes up the building cladding.
The bubbles are both organic (in form) and highly-scientific, constructed based on actual arrangement of organic cells and the natural formation of soap bubbles. This novel building is an energy saver as well, 90% of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within the structural zone and is used to heat the pools and the interior area.
