Beijing's Olympic architecture

Construction work continues on the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, China Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

The National Stadium for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be the main stadium for track and field events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Designed by Pritzker-winning architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the building was commissioned in 2002 Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

The "nest" is in fact a tightly woven lattice of steel Photograph: AP/AP

A view of one of the interior walkways, suspended between the exoskeleton and the stadium's inside walls Photograph: Iwan Baan/Freelance

Two workmen take a rest on one of the 100,000 seats. After the games are finished the stadium's capacity will be reduced to 85,000 Photograph: Iwan Baan/Freelance

The National Aquatics Centre, known as the Water Cube, will host the swimming and diving competitions in August Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Another view of the aquatics centre Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

The roof of the centre is a steel skeleton sheathed in a Teflon-like plastic membrane Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A fish-eye view inside Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

The entire complex, located on the so-called Olympic green in Beijing, has cost a reported 3.5 billion yuan (up to $500 million) and opens early next month Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian