heatherwick studio: 2012 london olympics cauldron
2012 london olympics cauldron designed by thomas heatherwick lighting rehearsal – starting point from which the torch bearers ignite the cauldron image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
the highly anticipated 2012 olympics cauldron designed by thomas heatherwick was finally revealed at yesterday’s opening ceremony. the dandelion-like design, is composed from 204 petals (each representing a competing nation), which are attached to levered stems that pump natural gas to each petal. the stems gently rise from the ground upwards and converge to form ‘one great flame of unity’ – representative of the transitory togetherness that is embodied in the olympic games.
the london 2012 olympic cauldron being lit
video via
2012 london olympics cauldron – lighting rehearsal – stems which pump natural gas to the petals rising upward
image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
2012 london olympics cauldron – lighting rehearsal – the flaming petals converge to form one united flame image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
2012 london olympics cauldron – by thomas heatherwick image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
heatherwick’s cauldron will be moved within the stadium to where the opening ceremony bell was, a reference to the position of the cauldron at the 1948 london games. at the end of the games, each team will take their petal home and the london 2012 cauldron will cease to exist.
2012 london olympics cauldron – each of the 204 copper petals represents one of the competing nations image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
2012 london olympics cauldron – each of the 204 copper petals are inscribed with the name of the country and ‘the XXX olympiad – london 2012” image: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
2012 london olympics cauldron – the mechanism which lifts the stemsimage: LOCOG / olympic opening ceremony tumblr
‘we were aware cauldrons had been getting bigger, higher, fatter as each olympics happened and we felt we shouldn’t try to be even bigger than the last ones. this incredible event has 204 nations coming together, so we had a child from each country bringing these copper polished objects in. at the end of the games, this cauldron will dismantle itself and radiate back down to the ground and each of those copper pieces take away by each nation and put in their national olympic cabinet.’ – thomas heatherwick
floor plan / level 0 image © heatherwick studio
elevation image © heatherwick studio
thomas heatherwick image © rosie hallam
olympic cauldrons of years past top row: 1976 (montreal, canada); 2010 (vancouver, canada); 2004 (athens, greece) bottom: 2002 (salt lake city, USA); 2000 (sydney, australia); 1992 (barcelona, spain)
‘thomas heatherwick: making‘ by thomas heatherwick is published by thames & hudson on 28 may 2012, £38.00 plc ‘heatherwick studio: designing the extraordinary’, sponsored by ernst & young, will be at the V&A from 31 may – 30 september 2012
london 2012 olympics (47 articles)
zaha hadid opens london aquatics centre to the public
house of flags an installation celebrating multicultural london
serie architects: BMW group pavilion, london
london 2012 olympic velodrome animation by chemical brothers + crystal CG
london 2012 olympic tree rings
offcut speedo swimsuit dress unity by from somewhere
thomas heatherwick (51 articles)
heatherwick studio's 'coal drops yard' shopping district opens in london
coal drops yard, designed by heatherwick studio, readies for opening
heatherwick studio draws up plans to overhaul major event venue in london
design news
snøhetta's design for norway's new banknotes goes into circulation
#design
the scheme reflects the importance of the sea to the norwegian national identity.
the scheme reflects the importance of the sea to the norwegian national identity.
fecal matter makes its skin heels a reality just in time for halloween
#design
originally photoshopped to perfection these alien-like shoes captured the attention of vogue - and now they're the real deal.
originally photoshopped to perfection these alien-like shoes captured the attention of vogue - and now they're the real deal.
MINI LIVING urban cabin in beijing reflects a golden future
#design
with transformative golden-mirrored elements, MINI LIVING and penda discuss how the urban cabin in beijing creates a new sense of community.
with transformative golden-mirrored elements, MINI LIVING and penda discuss how the urban cabin in beijing creates a new sense of community.
kuang-yi ku creates artificial animal parts to replace the use of real ones in chinese medicine
#design
the tiger penis project offers an alternative to prevent the further eradication of animals while preserving traditional cultures.
the tiger penis project offers an alternative to prevent the further eradication of animals while preserving traditional cultures.
spectacular. but how are they going to move it from the middle of the field before it is struck from a javelin?
@andrea : heatherwick’s cauldron will be moved within the stadium to where the opening ceremony bell
was, a reference to the position of the cauldron at the 1948 london games. at the end of the games,
each team will take their petal home and the london 2012 cauldron will cease to exist.
Tout simplement magnifique !
I really want to know what the material it is,how could such long stick stay straight,when putting flat.
Maybe its a lil selfish but its a shame that the nations will take their petal home. This means the Britains who desperately wanted to watch the games as spectators and didn’t get ceremony tickets will never get to see it in person.