British pavilion for the Shanghai Expo 2010 by Thomas Heatherwick

Next year, Great Britain will be represented by a furry cube at the World Expo in Shanghai. The winning design by Thomas Heatherwick from September 2007 is called 'The Pavilion of Ideas'. Originally, it consisted of a glowing cube with rounded corners. The current form of the pavilion does not shine as much, and additionally, there is a flowing acrylic fluff in the wind. The fluff of the pavilion is made up of 7.5 m long acrylic rods that give the design a soft and friendly appearance. The pavilion does not rest on heavy concrete foundations, but rather 'lightly touches the ground' with its fluff. At the end of each spike is a small light source that can change its color at will and, in combination with the other rods, create pixelated patterns. A total of 60,000 rods were used, which are meant to resemble sperm trying to penetrate an egg. The number 60,000 is not random; it represents the finite number of collected genetic information of the Millennium Seed Bank project.
Visitors' path to the pavilion will lead through a 6,000 m² plot surrounding exhibition areas, an auditorium, a café, and shops surrounded by strips of artificial grass. The original idea is also reflected in the interior, where an enormous digital wall creates a 'cathedral of seeds'. The British pavilion will serve as a calming and quiet place to recharge energy in the bustling area of the Shanghai Expo. The concept aims to be as eco-friendly as possible, focusing on maximum recycling and zero CO2 emissions. Info>