http://static.flickr.com/1/267102_add4d74906_m.jpg

I was reading about foam and the Weaire-Phelan structure on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaire-Phelan_structure) when I saw that it was the basis for the "water cube" that China will use for the 2008 olympics.

It looks like it will be very cool... here is an article with pictures. http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/swimming_centre/swimming_centre11.html You can to google images about it if you want more.

http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/swimming_centre/ for article, first link was to picture


http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/swimming_centre/images/Watercube04s.jpg

It has a plot area of 70,000 m^2

http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/swimming_centre/images/Watercube08s.jpg

^The interior

Another link with pics: http://www.thebeijingguide.com/olympic_construction/olympic_swimming_center.html

This article has the best explanation of the building I've seen yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1210059,00.html

I'd like to know more about the structural benefits of the building and the Weaire-Phelan structure myself, some are mentioned in the article.

Another good article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_National_Aquatics_Centre

So...what is it exactly?

It is going to be the arena for swimming competition in the Beijing olympics. The articles have more details.

It's an intriguing idea - and if the claims about its earthquake resistance are correct, an intelligent one as well.

so...whats this water dome thing made out of?

It has a steel frame made with the Weaire-Phelan structure (how, I don't know). It is coated by ETFE (Ethylene TetrafluoroEthylene), apparently a plastic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETFE