is a complete monographic publication about the National Swimming Center for the Beijing Olympics 2008. With an exhaustive description about the Watercube we present a detailed study of the project. The book makes an holistic approach to the project that starts with a brief description of urban and social changes that China has been experienced in the last decade. These facts have encouraged the construction boom that made possible these kind of projects occur in cities like Beijing.
Supported on a detailed processing of the information provided by the designers (graphics, images, CAD drawings) we have arranged a better presentation of the project: starting with the competition, going through a complete overview about the design process and fi nally explaining the building structure through the construction and the sustainable premises that make the Watercube such a spectacular building. In words of Chris Bosse, one of the architects of the design team this book would be “The best and most profound publication of the Watercube ever.”
For the content we have succeeded in obtain the valuable collaboration of some experts that make most complete the overview about the building:
* For the Introduction we have a text from Professor Denis Wearie, who is the author of the Weaire-Phelan Theory –the basis of the structure design-.
* For the building chapter, Architect Matteo Cainer (Assistant director at the Venice Biennale 2004, where the Watercube won the Atmosphere Award) had written a text about the importance of the building in the context of the Biennale, the biggest architecture exhibition.
* For the skin chapter I had the assistance of Angus MacLeod from Vector Foiltec, the company that is working to make the building cladding with ETFE.
* For the Social Responsibility subject at the sustainable premises chapter, I have text and images from a British photojournalist, Gemma Thorpe, based and working in Beijing at the momento of the construction.
Last year Ethel Baraona made a personal interview to Chris Bosse when he was an associate at PTW architects in Sydney, where he was fundamental in developing the Watercube in Beijing among several other international projects. This link was fundamental to achieve the quality of information that is exposed in the publication.
Cover: Hard
Illustrations: 320 Color + 45 B/W
Size: 17,7 x 17,7 cm.
Page Number: 320
Published by: Ethel Baraona Pohl
Language: English-Spanish
The author: Ethel Baraona Pohl studied architecture between El Salvador and Guatemala. This initial exchange showed her the similarities and differences of architectural work according to location. Guided by this fact and once established in Europe, her professional activities linked her to several architectural publications like Constructiva and Waterdrops magazines. Her last publication is the book Sustainable Architecture with Editorial Pencil from Valencia which has been nominee to the 2008 RIBA Construction Book Awards. Recently
she has published the fi rst paperless architecture book ever: piel.skin, that can be read at: http://skinarchitecture.com
Thanks,very interesting and useful post
Has read with the pleasure, very interesting post, write still, good luck to you!
The growth of China's economy has led to an immense real estate boom and the buildings being developed are beautiful. This book sounds like a great resource on what has happened.
MonetaryScientist makes a great point – with all the talk of China in the States, the emphasis is on oil consumption, population growth, potential threats to security, etc. Overlooked is the growth the country is undergoing, the nature of developments like those in Beijing and elsewhere in the country and the general “coming of age” of the country as a whole.
thanks!