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Series Title
MegastructuresProducer
Steven R. TalleyDirector
Steven R. TalleyExecutive Producer
Andrew WaterworthProduction Company
NHNZ and CICCProduced For
National Geographic Channel US & International-
Duration
50 minutes Definition
HDLocation
ChinaDelivery
ImmediatelyYOP
2007
For thousands of years China has displayed its greatness and power to the rest of the world by erecting some of the most magnificent monuments on earth. As China roars back into world power status in the 21st Century, it’s proclaiming its growth and economic success in steel and concrete, glass and stone.
But even by today’s standards it doesn’t get any more amazing than the Olympic Aquatics Centre. When Beijing lights the Olympic torch in 2008 the eyes of the world will be riveted on the incredible National Aquatics Center – aka the Water Cube.
And with good reason.
This fantasia of steel and plastics – a honeycomb of fifty six miles (ninety kilometres) of steel framework supporting pillows of high tech plastic inflated into shimmering translucent “bubbles” is a tribute to the vision of its designers and the tenacity of the people behind its construction.
With a total land surface of 753,474 square feet (70,000 square metres), the Water Cube will host the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events in the 2008 Olympics.
What the crowds won’t see is the physical and emotional human investment behind the evolution of this fantastic megastructure.
This masterpiece of eco-architecture features a robust design ensuring it is capable of withstanding powerful earthquakes and extremes of heat and cold while conserving energy and water – without sacrificing its stunning visual appeal.
A design award-winner even prior to its completion, Beijing’s Water Cube represents a true morphing of molecular science, architecture and structural engineering, creating another legacy the world will surely judge as worthy of global power status.
Megastructures (3 x 50 minutes)
- Megastructures One hour series
-
Main category:Science & Technology
For thousands of years China has displayed its greatness and power to the rest of the world by erecting some of the most magnificent monuments on earth.
As China roars back into world power status in the 21st Century, it’s proclaiming its growth and economic success in steel and concrete, glass and stone.
Join us as we go behind the scenes of three of China’s most amazing mega structures:
Water Cube
When Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics, the eyes of the world will be riveted on the National Swimming Centre - aka the Water Cube, a building destined to become one of this century's leading architectural feats.Yangshan’s Deep Water Port
Over the centuries China has produced some of the world's greatest engineering feats from The Great Wall to The Forbidden City. The Deep Water Port at Yangshan is on track to becoming China's latest record breaking construction feat as the biggest deep water port ever built.Shanghai World Financial Center
What do you get if you take sixty thousand tons of steel, 260,000 cubic meters of concrete, 2000 dedicated Chinese workers and the best design brains in the business? The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). At 101 floors high it will not only be the tallest building on the Chinese mainland but one that can withstand the toughest challenges Planet Earth can throw at a skyscraper… and even deadlier human threats.
- Yangshan's Deep Water Port One hour series
-
Main category:Science & Technology
For thousands of years China has displayed its greatness and power to the rest of the world by erecting some of the most magnificent monuments on earth.
As China roars back into world power status in the 21st Century, it’s proclaiming its growth and economic success in steel and concrete, glass and stone.
Join us as we go behind the scenes of three of China’s most amazing mega structures:
Water Cube
When Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics, the eyes of the world will be riveted on the National Swimming Centre - aka the Water Cube, a building destined to become one of this century's leading architectural feats.Yangshan’s Deep Water Port
Over the centuries China has produced some of the world's greatest engineering feats from The Great Wall to The Forbidden City. The Deep Water Port at Yangshan is on track to becoming China's latest record breaking construction feat as the biggest deep water port ever built.Shanghai World Financial Center
What do you get if you take sixty thousand tons of steel, 260,000 cubic meters of concrete, 2000 dedicated Chinese workers and the best design brains in the business? The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). At 101 floors high it will not only be the tallest building on the Chinese mainland but one that can withstand the toughest challenges Planet Earth can throw at a skyscraper… and even deadlier human threats.
World's Tallest TV Tower
Soaring a dizzying 610 meters skywards, Guangzhou's Sightseeing and TV Tower is on track to becoming the tallest television tower on Earth. It’s the testimony to the vision of a small architectural team who dared to dream big. Because of its complex high-tech geometry and lavish proportions, the Sightseeing and TV Tower will be the icon that puts Guangzhou on the map.
- Shanghai World Financial Center One hour series
-
Main category:Science & Technology
For thousands of years China has displayed its greatness and power to the rest of the world by erecting some of the most magnificent monuments on earth.
As China roars back into world power status in the 21st Century, it’s proclaiming its growth and economic success in steel and concrete, glass and stone.
Join us as we go behind the scenes of three of China’s most amazing mega structures:
Water Cube
When Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics, the eyes of the world will be riveted on the National Swimming Centre - aka the Water Cube, a building destined to become one of this century's leading architectural feats.Yangshan’s Deep Water Port
Over the centuries China has produced some of the world's greatest engineering feats from The Great Wall to The Forbidden City. The Deep Water Port at Yangshan is on track to becoming China's latest record breaking construction feat as the biggest deep water port ever built.Shanghai World Financial Center
What do you get if you take sixty thousand tons of steel, 260,000 cubic meters of concrete, 2000 dedicated Chinese workers and the best design brains in the business? The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). At 101 floors high it will not only be the tallest building on the Chinese mainland but one that can withstand the toughest challenges Planet Earth can throw at a skyscraper… and even deadlier human threats.
World's Tallest TV Tower
Soaring a dizzying 610 meters skywards, Guangzhou's Sightseeing and TV Tower is on track to becoming the tallest television tower on Earth. It’s the testimony to the vision of a small architectural team who dared to dream big. Because of its complex high-tech geometry and lavish proportions, the Sightseeing and TV Tower will be the icon that puts Guangzhou on the map.
