Checking In: Beijing Water Cube Water Park Project

After Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games in the uniquely designed “Water Cube,” some of our readers wondered about the future of this mammoth National Aquatic Centre. As Contract magazine previously reported in February, the Water Cube is being re-designed as an entertainment destination, and the multi-feature construction is poised to open in August as "The Happy Magic Watercube Waterpark."

After some thorough follow-up digging, Contract discovered a few new tidbits to satisfy our readers’ design-hungry appetites:

The redesign is by Canadian firm Forrec, internationally known for theme parks, water parks, and other venues. Forrec is one of several top industry suppliers and consultants weighing in on the project, including Australian waterpark veteran Alan Mahony. The design features top-notch and even some "first-ever" attractions, notably the RideHouse play structure, by industry leader ProSlide Technology. This structure will accompany China’s first AquaLoop looping waterslide, by WhiteWater West; a water Tornado; tube slides, body slides; lazy river, wave pool, and other attractions. Additionally, more than one-third of the over 100,000-sq.-ft. Watercube was pre-planned for conversion into a recreational waterpark at the time of its original construction.

“The client has been wonderful to work with,” comments Forrec vice-president Anthony Van Dam in a statement. “They have very high expectations and are focused on quality and innovation. Although the company and its leadership are humble and have made an effort to remain anonymous, I expect you will be hearing much more of them in the coming years.”

Yet, despite all this, an aura of mystery surrounds the opening of the Happy Magic Watercube Waterpark. A representative at ProSlide Technology shared a possible reason: the language barrier. Although this exciting new design should hold international interest, few non-Chinese-speakers are hearing about it—until now. (Trying to track down additional plan details and facts proved to be quite the feat!)

Once the park operations are underway, I'm sure more English-speakers will hear about it and visit with rave reviews. “This promises to be one of the leading indoor waterparks in the world,” says Van Dam. “It will provide enjoyment for many families and, thanks to the unique design, offer two very different but memorable experiences by day and night.” He refers here to the unique bubble design on the building's exterior, which glows from within at night. But so far, Contract magazine seems to have the only scoop on this project.

Have you found any other reports? Share with us by commenting below.

--Lillian Civantos

Recycled Skateboards for Retail

Creativity is truly a form of genius. Recently, I came across one of the coolest design ideas ever. And when I say “ever” – I mean in, like, the history of the world (insert valley girl accent here).

Art of Board (AOB) is merging recycling with design by using scraps from broken skateboard decks for retail design. What?! Recycled skateboards for retail? Seriously, these people are brilliant.

In addition, AOB launched I Ride I Recycle, the first-ever skateboard deck recycling organization. The new organization is approaching skateboard shops, manufacturers and skaters themselves to ask for donations of broken or unwanted decks. So, not only is AOB filled with creative geniuses, they’re saving the planet, too. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing better.

Designs include everything from picture frames to mirrors, coasters, tables, mosaics or the recently designed kitchen backsplash for a LEED-certified recording studio in Hollywood and a wall surface in a hip surf shop in Ocean City, Md.

Imagine the uniqueness of every design, not to mention the bragging rights of saving the planet and looking cool while doing it.

I’m consistently amazed, impressed and in pure awe of what people are capable of when it comes to giving our planet love. Something as simple as old skateboards has now morphed into an ultra-hip way to design our spaces and keep our landfills less full. Divine!

Tell us about designers you know who are equally talented. Leave your comments here!

--Heather Strang, Display & Design Ideas

Olympic Proportions: World’s Largest Glass Skis Designed by Architect

By Stacy Straczynski, Assocaite Editor

If anyone in Vancouver missed that the 2010 Winter Olympics were underway (Pretty hard to believe right!), they’ll get a huge artistic reminder when they see these 16-ft.-tall skis that were installed outside architectural glass artist Joel Berman’s Vancouver-based studio, Joel Berman Glass Studio. The pair of blue, white, and red skis were commissioned by K2 Sports, a Seattle-based snow ski and snowboard manufacturer, are the largest all glass skis in the world and features new glass-on-glass color printing technology on fused colored glass.

   

The skis will be on display in the downtown Vancouver entertainment epicenter through Feb. 28, after which they will be moved permanently to KI’s 3 00,000-sq.-ft. headquarters facilities.