Beijing National Aquatics Center, 2007

This building, dubbed the Watercube, will host swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming events at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Sydney-based PTW Architects based the design on patterns of cells and soap bubbles and used ETFE pillows to create the bubble effect. At 750,000 square feet, with 4,000 ETFE pillows cladding its walls and roof, the Watercube houses five pools and seating for 17,000 spectators — the biggest project yet to use the material. It will also be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world. The blue film bubbles will help heat the building much like a greenhouse, trapping 90% of the solar energy that hits the building and recycling it to heat the pools and interior.

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