Foam physics
The striking shape of the Water Cube was inspired by the solution to a tricky physics problem - the best way to stick equal sized bubbles together, using as little skin as possible.
Physicist Denis Weaire found the answer. 'We saw the architectural appeal, but the Beijing building is a more complicated take on the idea.'
To get the random-looking structure of the Cube, the design team started with Weaire's pattern, sliced it, twisted it and then put back it together again.
| 
David Grouse, Wiebke Drenkhan and Denis Weaire with a model of the Phelan-Weaire structure.
John Kelly, School of Physics, TCD |
|
