Although less grandiose in scale than its neighbor the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube often manages to upstage the massive structure (especially at night) by its childishly simplistic and colorful bubble motifs that mask an incredibly sophisticated design. 

The consortium of Chinese and Australian "starchitects" responsible for designing this masterpiece employed a quasi-magical material called ETFE, a species of Teflon, to give the Cube its bubblicious glam quotient.

Designed to react to changing light conditions, it's the material responsible for the Water Cube's stunning visual effects—best viewed at night. The structure's outer walls, which capture up to 90% of ambient and solar heat, slowly shift in color through shades of blue, pink and purple.