On the Cutting Edge: China's Extraordinary Buildings

Beijing National Aquatics Center
The Beijing National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube, was built in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. The complex was most famously used for the prestigious Games' swimming competitions. Just beyond it, the Bird's Nest sits behind the structure. The design was conceived by an international consortium of architects, which included Australian PTW Architects and China Construction Design International. In 2010, China turned part of the building's interior into a water park for its citizens.