Felix juwono
Watercube
Precedent Analysis
Researching and extracting sufficient construction principles and technical details of a case study project, Beijing National Aquatics Centre or well-known as Water Cube. Demonstrating in 3D modelling platform of the precedent, we communicate by analyzing the material, structural and construction hierarchy of its skin and structure.
This Water Cube was designed by an Australian architecture firm (PTW Architects) through architectural competitions. It compromises with a steel space frame, with the largest ETFE-clad structure in the world which namely as the ETFE pillows that are installed in the whole building as the skins. Reflecting the concept behind by as an aquatic centre building popularity has increased with its facade, as well as the location that is next to the Beijing National Stadium or known as the Bird's Nest.
A facility built in the 2008 to host the swimming and diving events of Olympics in Beijing, where all is about water. This particular building is challenged in reacting the environment by demonstrating the coluor and skin that function as the institution itself. ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) pillows are the skin of every sides of the building. With its large steel frame installed in holding the structure of the building, every side of the building has strong and resistance from light and air pollution. The pillows capture the energy from the sun for heating and lighting and the lightweight pillows are installed inside as the secondary structure to support the skin and building as the thermal aspects.
In this one small area section cut, we examine of how the envelopes of the skin and structures are connected. In the total of 22,000 steel members, approximately 200-800mm steel tubes, are connected to the ETFE pillows the steel connection detail shown in the diagram the next page, also examining the ETFE sheet detail of how they are joined to hold the skins.
SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
The walls, roof and teh structural elements of the Watercube merge to become a continuous bubble form. Each facade has its own unique bubble pattern that was derived from the Weaire-Phelan theory that is distorted by rotating and cutting to create an aesthetically appealing form. Depending on the orientation of the facade, the ETFE are varied with multiple layers, and added frits depending on the sun intensity. The South facade is an important facade to analyse as the sun in the Northern Hemisphere as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West towards the South pole. Thus the Southern facade will receive the most sun exposure in both summer and winter. The fit “dots” pattern helps create shading, which in return achieves an insulated greenhouse
BUBBLE PATTERN
All the sun diagram in this analysis is calculated for an hour from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. In summer, the right wing of the building will receive some sunlight which is not too intense. This module work better in winter as it is able to provide heat throughout the building quite evenly with the right wing being the most heated area.
By creating a facade that is most extruded in the center creates shading in the center area and thus in summer this module works great to provide shading as well as cooling in the center area of the building. In the winter, the most heated area are at the ends which also is a great module that performs in both season.
The sun analysis for this module is very similar as to the results for the module that is dense in the left wing. In summer, the bubble bar could get quite a heat in the left corner. However, the right area is shaded but this isn’t necessary as there is no program happening in the right end. In winter however, the bar will receive warmth at the area where there are activities occuring.
Compared to the 2.5 meters extrusion, this module provides a lot more shading especially in the left wing where most of the activities occur. It has provided the maximum shading in the area. As for winter, the left wing where most of the activities take place isn’t as heated as the 2.5m module.
Having a 5 meter extrusion at the center helps to provide most shading during summer. Some areas at the corners are prone to sunlight and heating but it is only a small area. In winter, the heat is distributed pretty evenly. Despite not providing as much warmth as the 2.5 meter extrusion, it performs better in summer as it is able to provide total shading during the crucial hour of the hottest sunlight.
The most shading is provided on the right wing, which is not necessary as there isn’t any activity in the right wing. Thus the left wing 5 meter extrusion would be a better choice. In winter, this module performs better than the 2.5 meter extrusion in the left wing since this module provides more heat in the left areas.
In summer, this module provides a total shading for the left areas which works really great as the bar activities takes place there. However in winter, the heat is provided on the right wing. This is not ideal since the warmth and sunlight is needed most on the left area.
The 7.5 meter extrusion in the center provides a lot of shading for most of the areas in the watercube. The corners will receive some degree of sunlight however it could get quite dar during summer. Natural lighting is very limited in summer which is a problem. In winter, the most shading is provided in the left wing which works great
The Watercube could get quite dark in summer especially in the right wing as it has provided total shading with its 7.5 meter extrusion. Thus this module would not be the most recommended for summer. As for winter, the module does not perform as bad as it is able to provide sunlight in the areas of where the activities in the bar occurs.
SUN ANALYSIS - VARIEGATED DEPLOYMENT
WIDTH - 2.5 METER
WIDTH - 5 METER
WIDTH - 7.5 METER
TECTONIC MODELLING
The section southern eleavtion showcase the finish moduel that is attached to the Water Cube. With the added module, it is no longerjust bubble building where activities such as swimming and diving take place. Now the Water Cubehas transform into a living core that helps to clean the air in its surrounding environment.
The structural elementand its bubble patterns remain the same, but another complexity and functional oranmental facades are added to every side of the building.
The added prosolve 370eis an ideal choice of material to be added to the Water Cube as the problem being analysed with the building is the increasing pollution in Beijing. Its lightweight material made of thermoformed fire-rated ABS plastic shell, joined with standard steel fixings, makes it an easy decorative facade to attach to the grand of the Water Cube
ORIGINAL WATERCUBE
The original facade of the WaterCube showcases the ETFE bubbles along with its steel structure that upholds it. However the problem identified is with the pollution in Beijing. The ETFE bubbles can easily get dirty and relying on the rainwater to clean itself is not enough. Thus a new system is needed to combat the problem of the pollution.
PROSOLVE 370E MODULE
Prosolve 370e is a module created to reduce air pollution whereby it is made with lightweight thermoformed plastic panels. Coated with superfine titanium dioxide (TiO2) it only requires naturally UV light and humidity to reduce air pollutants. In return it transforms CO2 into harmless amounts of carbon dioxide and water. The chosen module is the 2.5 meter extrusion in the middle as it provides the best shading for summer and sunlight for winter.
PROTOTYPE
The prototype is generated based on the intensity of sunlight that will work best during the seasons in Beijing. Further model is created to enhance the effectiveness of the prosolve 370e to be attached on to the original Water Cube facade. Instead of modifying the beautiful shape of the Water Cube bubbles, the prosolve 370e has become an ornamented attachment that works both way as a decoration as well as a pollution reducing system.
FINISHING MODEL
This facade represents the 5 meter extrusion at the center whereby it is the most extruded wall from the module. This facade plays a big role in providing shade in summer and diffuse direct sunlighting in both summer and winter. The finish facade has contours inside each cell to create a layer of depth. In return it adds an aesthetic appearance to the facade to resemble corals; which is also directly linked with ocean/water.
Proudly presented with the teams:
Felix Juwono
Arlia Roselin