 
Beijing is putting together some stunning projects in preparation for their hosting of the 2008 Olympics; the least of which is their massive green space complete with forest and artificial mountain.
Also gracing the venue will be the fantastical bubble-wrap-esque Olympic Swimming Centre. This building has been designed to impress — and reacts brilliantly to light and projection conveying expressions of water and other natural elements. From the article,
“The building’s skin, made from an innovative and lightweight transparent “teflonâ€, abbreviated as ETFE, has been designed to react specifically to lighting and projection – and particularly the advanced systems which will become available in the coming four years – to create a stunning visual and sensory experience that will also be shared by millions of television viewers around the world. This state-of-the-art material provides a cost effective cladding solution for modern architecture, enabling a wide range of applications where traditional materials, such as glass, may not be possible.”
Eye-popping visuals aside, this material is also excels at absorbing heat — resulting in a mini-greenhouse effect for those inside. According to one engineer, 90% of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within the structural zone and is used to heat the pools and the interior area. Incredible. Check out Inhabitat’s great in-depth look at the structure for more information!
