UK pavilion at shanghai world expo 2010

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 fiber 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
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side view
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detail of rods from the exterior
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visitors walking through the seed pavilion
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detail of seeds imprinted on the ends of rods
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the curvature of the rods
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the seed cathedral at night
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the rods connected to electrical circuits
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the rods glowing at night
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the exterior at night
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the view of shanghai city behind the pavilion
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