British design for Shanghai expo

One could call it functional art or just plain weird, but it definitely has impact. The work of some British architects continues to turn heads, both in the UK and overseas — and Heatherwick Studio can testify to that.

The London-based studio, founded in 1994 by British designer Thomas Heatherwick and known for its work in architecture, sculpture, and product and exhibition design —  recently scooped the winning spot to design and build the UK pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China. The six-month-long event (from May 1 to October 31, 2010), whose theme is ‘Better City, Better Life’, will be held on the waterfront of the Huangpu River in downtown Shanghai, China’s largest city.

The design competition was tough with six finalists, including the creator of the London Eye, battling it out for the top slot. Heatherwick Studio’s ‘Pavilion of Ideas’ however, caught the attention of the judges, and was also voted as the design favourite by Shanghai residents in an online poll.

The design for the UK pavilion looks like a marshmallow-type box with thousands of spines which hover without visible support above a public square. All the spines, which will sway in the wind, are tipped with a tiny coloured light source which can be programmed to show several images, colours and messages.

‘Unique’ concept

Inside the pavilion, visitors will see an enormous digital screen with a variety of content. The area outside will be earmarked for exhibition space and an auditorium, and will include shops and a cafe surrounded by grass.

“We were really energised by the uniqueness of the concept and the way it integrated with a sensory experience for visitors,” said the jury competition leader, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment. For more information, contact: Heatherwick Studio, 16 Acton Street, London WC1X 9NG. Fax: +44 (0) 20 7833 8400.

E-mail: studio@heatherwick.com

‘Water Cube’ for Beijing Olympics

China has officially opened its National Aquatics Centre with much fanfare. The centre, nicknamed ‘Water Cube’ for its unique bubbly design, will be the venue for swimming and diving competitions this August when Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympic Games.

Chinese officials declared the Water Cube’s construction a complete success as they formally opened the Olympic venue at the end of January, watched by international and domestic journalists. The aquatics centre was jointly designed by Chinese and Western architects. The Water Cube’s thick, bubbled surface allows 90 per cent of sunlight into the venue and acts as a greenhouse to save energy, says a Voice of America (VOA) report from Beijing.

Zheng Fang, manager of temporary construction at the centre, says the structure is up to international safety standards and that some cracks on diving boards pointed out by a journalist would not be a problem. One official said rainwater would clean the outside while the water used in the pools passed through so many filters that it was safer than drinking water. It was not clear if he was referring to bottled or tap water. Beijing says its tap water is safe to drink, but almost all residents first boil it or buy bottled water, says the VOA report.

The Water Cube is the only Olympic venue funded by $110 million in donations from ethnic Chinese living outside mainland China. Beijing’s other iconic Olympic venue is the national stadium, nicknamed ‘Bird's Nest’ for its nest-shaped design.