The interior view of the 'Water Cube'

(BEIJING, January 29) -- On April 10, 2006, a shiny, silver, square building stood next to the "Bird's Nest." Upon initial glances, people may not connect it to the National Aquatics Center ("Water Cube"), but after careful investigation, viewers will find that the shapes woven by the steel framework is of water molecules. The amazing membrane structure is supported by this steel framework.

The membrane structure 'cloth' has been the main attraction of the National Aquatics Center ever since its completion. This steel framework was actually the most difficult part of the design and construction of the Olympic facility.

The steel framework of the 'Water Cube' is totally different from that of any other facility in China. The main feature of the National Aquatics Center's steel framework is irregularity. This irregularity presents a pure and natural beauty, but at the same time, gave planners much welding difficulty.

Designers created the steel structure of the "Water Cube" based on the so-called "bubble theory," a somewhat controversial theory because of its many unsolvable problems. When the designers of the National Aquatics Center decided to practice the bubble theory, it drew great attention in the international architecture field. Almost all of the architects that have studied the bubble theory have come to visit the venue construction site.

It took only 10 months for workers to build the large-scale, irregular steel structure of the Olympic venue, which is considered a miracle in the history of world architecture.

The design and construction of the 'Water Cube' steel structure stunned the whole world. The Guardian, a British newspaper, published an article calling it a masterpiece of theoretical physics.