'Bird's Nest', 'Water Cube' ranked among top 10 new buildings

(Yuanda Enterprise Group)
Updated: 2008-08-04 22:31

Of China's top 10 new architectural miracles appraised by Business Week, the best-selling American financial magazine in the world, the National Stadium, also known as Bird's Nest and the National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube, took the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, respectively. Both the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube were constructed by Yuanda Group.

Of the 100 best high-tech achievements, appraised by American magazine Popular Science, the Water Cube is No. 1.

The Water Cube is uniquely designed. Its external elevation is not reinforced by concrete, but by 3,065 blue air cushions of different sizes and made of ETFE materials. The Water Cube has won many awards, including the well-known "Venice International Architectural Award."

The creation of the Water Cube is as significant as the recently developed concealed hearing aid and the mini-satellite, which is the size of a refrigerator, and the three inventions are the most outstanding of mankind, Popular Science reported.

Business Week's top 10 buildings in China are: the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, Beijing Capital International Airport, the Shanghai World Financial Center, National Grand Theater, CCTV, the Shanghai Chongming Eco-Island, China MOMA, the Commune by the Great Wall and Shanghai Donghai Bridge.