Beijing’s Take On The Olympics

For the past several years, China has been ramping up its modernization of capital city Beijing in hopes of redefining its standing within the world and presenting a new look at contemporary China. Amidst a new cultural revolution (although very different from its predecessor), the country has erected scores of modern architectural marvels.

Perhaps the most famous of these thus far is the Beijing National Stadium, often referred to as the “Bird’s Nest.” Aside from the building’s incredibly unique design, the stadium functions as one of the most environmentally-friendly works of its kind.

China’s new work of art seats 91,000 - all cooled by air directed seep through the structure’s many gaps. Of course, despite nearly hitting the 100,000 mark, I wish you luck in getting a seat. London’s Emirates Stadium clocks in at a mere 60, 355.

In addition to the stadium, Beijing has also constructed what seems to be one of the most futuristic aquatic complexes in the world. The aptly named National Swimming Center too carries a striking design, but also with the primary intent of optimizing its energy efficiency. The building collects rain water to supplement its pools while simultaneously utilizing an elaborate array of solar panels to heat the pools contained within.

Of course, no Olympics would be complete without some kind of overly high-tech facility behind the scenes. Beijing’s take on tech reveals a building that immediately conjures up images of Tron. Though there isn’t a readily abundant amount of information on the structure, given the relative secrecy of the Chinese government, there are plenty of images floating around.