Water Cube (The China’s National Aquatic Center), an architectural building that literally embodies the water theme. The blue "bubbles" made by the ETFE membrane fully showcase the grace and sensitivity of water.

The membrane structure of the "Water Cube," which is composed of more than 3000 pneumatic die cushion with a coverage area of 110, 000 square meters, is the largest in the world. The "Water Cube" is also the only public building that is fully made of a membrane structure.

This is also the first time that ETFE membranes have been used as the surface of a building in China ---- a rare practice anywhere in the world.

There are many benefits by using the membrane fabric as the wall claddings:

1, It is cost effective because of its light-weight and indigenized production.

2, Strong Cushions. The roof and the walls of the Water Cube are made of 3,000 "bubbles” with air-filled layers of the ETFE membrane. The membrane looks fragile, but a cushion can resist the weight of a car and be stretched to three or four times its size.

3, Breathing Building.  The Water Cube is warm inside during a freezing winter with fans installed on the roof and ventilation openings at the foot of walls.  Temperature monitoring facilities in the corridors transmit information to the computer that controls the ventilation openings.

 4, House with Sun Shade.  Beams of light can penetrate the nearly transparent ETFE membrane. The trick is that sunlight should come in as much as possible in winter, but only as much as needed in summer.  There are about 100 million plating points on the surface, which separate and reflect light like a sun shade. Extra light and heat is kept out.

5, Fire Resistant.  The ETFE membrane is flame retardant and self extinguishing. Its melting point is about 275 degrees Celsius. When the temperature nears this point, there will be many small holes on the surface of the membrane and the air in the “bubbles” will be allowed out. As a result, the trapped air will not become so hot that the membrane catches fire.

6, The Theory of Foam-Physics.  Designers created the steel framework of the Water Cube based on the "foam-physics" idea, which was established by renowned British physician Lord Kelvin at the end of the 19th century. When designers of the National Aquatics Center decided to put this theory into practice, they attracted great attention among the world’s leading architects. Actually, almost everyone who has studied “foam-physics” came to visit the construction site on the Olympic Green.

 7, Long Life: The designed durability of the ETFE membrane is 30 years. Afterwards the bubbles can be restored rather than replaced.

8, Self-Cleaning.  The ETFE membrane is self-cleaning in nature. Since the friction coefficient of the material is small, dust does not easily attach onto the structure. Even if dust does collect on it, as long as it rains, the surface is washed by rain water.

9, Changing Colors: The Water Cube can even change colors. LED lights will be installed in every “bubble” and the building can be all red when the Olympic flame is ignited at the Games’ Opening Ceremony. Screens can be set up inside the “bubbles” to give a live show of competitions inside.