Watch an animation of the architectural star of the Olympic opening ceremony

The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, nicknamed the Water Cube was initially designed by Austrian firm PTW Architects with structural engineer Arup conceiving the structure.

Built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the steel space frame is the largest ETFE clad structure in the world with over 100,000 m² of ETFE pillows that are only eight one-thousandths of an inch in total thickness.

The Water Cube, Beijing Olympic Stadium changing colours

Beijing Olympics,the Water Cube 2008 ARUP

"Water Cube" at Night