UK Pavilion by >littleyiye< is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Don’t mistake this unique structure for gigantic fuzzy dice! It may look soft but the bio-inspired Seed Cathedral actually features 60,000 acrylic plastic “hairs” which extend from every surface. It was designed by Heatherwick Studio, a London-based architectural firm.
Seed Cathedral by Benoit is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Outside the Seed Cathedral by David Spencer is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
This unusual structure blends art with architecture and creates a unique experience for the visitor. Standing at 15m wide by 10m high (approximately 49’x32′) the building creates a sense of mystery. It was created for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. Heatherwick Studio won the design competition, beating architectural rockstars such as Zaha Hadid in the process.
The design objectives included challenges such as creating one of the top 5 most popular spaces in the Expo and directly connecting the structure to its exhibit.
The theme for the Expo was the Future of Cities. Heatherwick Studio drew inspiration from 2 world record holders: British cities and London’s own Kew Gardens. British cities are the greenest world-wide for their size and Kew Gardens is the first major botanical institution in the world. Kew Garden’s recently launched a mission to gather seeds of 25% of the world’s population of plants. With this inspiration in hand, Heatherwick Studio went to work.
The Seed Cathedral’s hairs actually run completely through the structure. The outer tips bring in natural light and illuminate the interior ends. Each interior end is transparent and displays seeds. The effect is a unique space designed to awe and inspire thought. The lighting of the interior fluctuates due to outer conditions. Passing clouds cause the interior to dim, full sun brightens it. Tiny lights inside each hair illuminate them at night. The hairs are flexible and sway in even a gentle breeze, making the building seem almost alive.
The result? It was the UK’s busiest attraction at the Expo with over 8 million visitors and received the gold medal for Pavillion Design.
After seeing this curiously captivating structure it will be interesting to see what Heatherwick Studio comes up with next.
