rossana martinez

This morning, it was 70 degrees with a beautiful clear and blue sky. I ran towards DUMBO and decided to stop next to the Brooklyn Bridge to absorb it all — the sky, the water, birds, and the view of the Bridge and Lower Manhattan. I thought of the excitement that is about to begin, the 2008 Olympics.

I’m excited to see all the athletes, but I’m also excited about the new architecture especially the National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube”. It’s an amazing piece of public art and I can’t wait to see grand athletes performing in grand architecture.

The “Water Cube” is a collaboration between PTW, ARUP, and the China State Construction and Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). Inspired by soap bubbles, the architects designed a simple structure using a plastic transparent material called ETFE. The building works like a green house and the material allows more sunlight in than glass. The sunlight heats the pools and the interiors, making the building energy efficient. And that for me is the perfect match — a balance between creativity and sustainability.

For architecture and green lovers, there is more information about the building at the New York Times, Inhabitat and TreeHugger.

Enjoy the games!