Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Design
Measuring 330 meters long, 220 meters wide and 69.2 meters
tall, the design of the Bird's Nest stadium design is based on 24
trussed columns, weighing 1000 tons each. Due to their weight,
no crane was strong enough to lift the columns into place when
construction of the stadium's steel outer shell began in 2005.
As a result, the columns were shipped in parts to Beijing and
assembled in position. After all 24 columns were in place,
smaller beams were welded between to give the structure
greater strength and enhance the unique, elliptical crosshatch
appearance. Finally, the third set of beams was added in order
to hang the transparent, polymer membrane, which provides
roofing between the steel beams.
During the design stage of the project, the Swiss architecture
firm Herzog & de Meuron, along with their partners Arup and
China Architecture Design & Research Group, had numerous
issues to address beyond the aesthetic appeal of the stadium.
One crucial problem was whether, once in place, the 42,000
tons of steel required to build the structure would be able to
support its own weight, or whether it would crumble once the 78
support pillars used during construction were removed.
Construction
Like the Eiffel Tower, the Bird's Nest has not been without its
share of criticism, particularly for its non-traditional style and
appearance. Nevertheless, it has become a poignant symbol of
modern China and the engineering ability of mankind.
Architecture
The main elements support each other and converge into a grid
formation. The stand of the stadium is a seven-storey shear
wall system with a concrete framework. The upper part of the
stand and the stadium steel structure are actually separated
from one another, but both of these are based on a joint
foundation.
Inspired by the way the insects use very limited resources to create
ventilated mounds, permeating them with holes over the surface, Pearce
set out to construct a building also peppered with holes all over the
building’s “skin”.
The tower’s “skin” takes heat from outside air during the day and
absorbs it into the structure’s body. The air is cool when it reaches the
middle of the building. And at night the heat that’s been absorbed during
the day warms this cool air, creating comfortable cool or warm
conditions for people inside.
Eastgate is probably the best example of the word 'biomimicry' that’s out
there at the moment.
Passive cooling
Passive cooling works by storing heat in the day and venting it at night
as temperatures drop.
To help with this last, the windows have adjustable blinds, but Pearce
also used deep overhangs to keep direct sun off windows and walls.
Deep eaves are a traditional solution in Africa, shading the walls
completely from the high summer sun, while allowing the lower winter
sun to warm the building in the morning.
Further, passive cooling systems are particularly appropriate for this part
of Africa because, long before humans thought of it, passive cooling was
being used by the local termites. Termite mounds include flues which
vent through the top and sides, and the mound itself is designed to catch
the breeze. As the wind blows, hot air from the main chambers below
ground is drawn out of the structure, helped by termites opening or
blocking tunnels to control air flow.