As one of the most important landmarks of the Beijing Olympic Games, the National Swimming Centre sought to establish a Yin and Yang relationship with the National Stadium. During the process, PTW associated with CSCEC, CCDI and ARUP blended technology with culture. The core objective of the Water Cube is water conservation, and specifically the use of water efficient systems. The billions of plating points on the ETFE membrane allow it to act much like a beach umbrella to control the temperature and lighting of the Water Cube, while cutting energy costs by up to 30 percent. The Water Cube design uses state-of-the-art materials to create a building that is visually striking, energy efficient and ecologically friendly. It is a result of the cross-fertilization of ideas between cultures and between architectural and engineering disciplines. For these reasons, this project is truly unique.