3D Model of Beijing's National Aquatics Centre Created Using ARRK

By DE Editors

By now, those watching the 2008 Olympics in Beijing have seen glimpses of Beijing’s National Aquatics Centre, known today as the Water Cube. Five years ago, ARRK’s (Melbourne, Australia) Rapid Product Development team employed advanced rapid prototyping technologies to create a 3D physical model of the National Aquatics Centre design for the Olympic swimming and diving competitions.

In preparation for the Olympic Games, in early 2003, the Municipality of Beijing announced a limited design competition for the 2008 Olympic Aquatics Centre. The winning design was submitted by Arup, a global firm of designers, engineers, planners and business consultants, whose “Water Cube” design was based on a natural pattern of organic cells and the formation of soap bubbles. The resulting National Aquatics Centre is a large membrane super structure of aqua bubble walls that house the pools for the Olympic swimming and diving competitions, with accompanying seating for 17,000 spectators.

Prior to the competition, Arup knew they needed to make a physical model for the Water Cube in order to convey the idea to the Jury of International experts, because it was such a unique structure, according to Tristram Carfrae, Arup Fellow. “With 22,000 elements and 12,000 joints, there was no way that we could make one manually, so we turned to the rapid prototyping skills of ARRK.” The walls of the Centre are made of an ultra-thin plastic outer surface no more than .02 millimeters thick.

Nothing quite like this had ever been made using a stereolithography machine before, yet the ARRK team were exceptionally determined to make it work. The resulting model was a true success. Carfrae said that in July 2003, the Arup team was determined the winner of the competition and was awarded the design commission.

ARRK
Melbourne, Australia

Arup
Australia

Engineering the Water Cube

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.