Beijing “Water Cube” ETFE inflatable membrane structure swimming pool has been recorded in the history of human architecture, this iconic and landmark great building, every key detail of it is worth our study. Today, we will reveal to you how its original color selection was determined, and why did the “Water Cube” ETFE film choose medium blue?

ETFE film is produced by heating and melting ETFE raw meal and rolling by rolling, and its substrate is colorless and transparent. In order to meet the needs of architectural effects, pigments can be added to the production process to obtain different colors of films, similar to the production process of colored glass. The membrane is available in a variety of colors, such as white, blue, gray, etc.

Obviously, the choice of membrane color is the most basic and critical link in membrane structure design and even architectural design, and even determines whether the “Water Cube” ETFE inflatable membrane structure can achieve real success. In order to reflect the color of water, it is certain that the “Water Cube” uses a blue film, but there are many shades of blue in it.

As early as the preliminary design stage of the building, according to the requirements of the architect, the membrane structure construction unit has made three different sets of model templates, among which the membrane color is azure blue (sea blue), medium blue and light blue. Through the observation of these three sets of models under different lighting conditions, the designers formed a preliminary intention on the color of the film, and preferred to choose the medium blue color. This color has a high light transmittance, and when the light is strong, it is closer to the hue of water, close to the color of the water surface that reflects the blue sky under the sun. And even on rainy days with dark light, it will not appear too gray. After the initial intention is determined, a series of visual models are used to test, and after careful analysis and comparison and detailed demonstration, the color of ETFE film is finally determined to be medium blue.

The seemingly ordinary choice of details is subject to trial and error by various technical experts, which is one of the reasons why the “Water Cube” ETFE inflatable membrane structure can achieve a classic in the world.