The design of Beijing’s new Olympic swimming center -- with its foam bubble facade and cube shape -- made a mighty splash around the world when it was first revealed.

However, the key to the success was not only designing an incredible structure, but also understanding the secrets of Chinese design philosophy: They needed to know the yin and yang of Beijing.

The swimming center is strategically positioned adjacent to the equally impressive National Stadium, which also created headlines with its unique “bird’s nest’’ shape. Together, the two structures form the heart and soul of the 2008 Games layout and reflect the Chinese philosophy of harmonious balance.

The steel stadium is circular, and colored with a red hue. The foam-covered swimming center is square shaped and blue. Fire and water, masculine and feminine, yin and yang. In fact, an aerial photograph of the site reveals the two key Olympic Games venues forming a giant yin and yang symbol.

Beijing Olympic organizers wanted the venues to showcase cutting-edge innovation of modern China while also reflecting the old spirit of the Middle Kingdom. To recapture this spirit, the two sporting centers are integrated into the axis of the capital, one of the world’s most carefully planned cities.

The north-south axis line, which runs through Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Drum and Bell towers, perfectly dissects the two modern Olympic landmarks. The mix of deep-rooted Chinese culture and free-flowing modern ideas was how the swimming center was born.

It also had environmental advantages. The swimming complex is covered by two skins of bubbles and in between these layers is a 4m gap. During winter, heat is trapped inside the building; however in summer, hot air can escape. During August, when the Games is to be held, the summer heat will be trapped in the cavity and released through vents in the roof. It will also reduce energy costs by 30 percent.

It is a very rigid mathematical formula and it is incredibly repetitive. When you look at this water cube, it looks random and incredibly wild but it’s based on very strict mathematical geometry and is a very efficient spanning structure.

The Olympic master plan is based on the strong axis. The yin and yang contrast between these buildings. The North-South axis line, which runs through Beijing's historic icons, perfectly dissects the two modern Olympic landmarks.