The designers of a building that mimics the physical properties of a chameleon to conserve energy were awarded Britain’s premier prize for engineering innovation on Tuesday.

A team of engineers from Arup, a UK-based design and technology consultancy, received the £50,000 MacRobert award from the Duke of Edinburgh for its role in building the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing, one of a clutch of new structures that featured in last summer’s Olympic Games.