UK pavilion at shanghai expo 2010
image © designboom
the concept behind thomas heatherwick's UK pavilion at shanghai expo 2010,
is an enclosure that throws outwards from all sides, a mass of long radiating cilia.
the centerpiece of the pavilion is the seed cathedral, a six storey high cube-like structure,
pierced by approximately 60 000 x 7.5m long slim transparent acrylic rods which sway gently
in response to any wind movement. during the day each of these rods act like fibre
optic filaments, drawing on daylight in order to illuminate the interior. at night, light sources
at the interior end of each rod allow the whole structure to glow from the outside.
the pavilion is situated on a landscape which resembles paper which once wrapped
the building, but now lies unfolded on the site. the surrounding space provides an open
venue for public events and along with shelter for visitors.
the union jack is visible on the exterior
image © designboom
image © designboom
side viewimage © designboom
detail of rods from the exterior
image © designboom
visitors walking through the seed pavilion
image © designboom
image © designboom
image © designboom
detail of seeds imprinted on the ends of rods
image © designboom
the curvature of the rods
image © designboom
the seed cathedral at night
image © designboom
image © designboom
the rods connected to electrical circuitsimage © designboom
the rods glowing at nightimage © designboom
the exterior at nightimage © designboom
image © designboom
the view of shanghai city behind the pavilion
image © designboom
- ۸۹/۱۲/۱۶