Words from September Industry:
Marque were commissioned to create a book and exhibition to celebrate the making of the UK Pavilion, showcased at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. The pavilion by Heatherwick Studio — known as the ‘Seed Cathedral’ and laterally named ‘The Dandelion’, in terms of innovation, was by far the most intriguing of the national pavilions. It truly integrated concept, container and content.
The 180 page book, set in English and Mandarin takes the reader on the journey from the birth of the idea, through the construction process, to the architectural impact it has had. The exhibition, constructed of transparent acrylic panels, featured a grid of 35mm referencing the core component at the heart of the Dandelion: 60,000 acrylic rods, set into a cube comprising of 60,000 35mm square holes. The exhibition made up of perspex boxes contained graphics as well as a projection unit showing a documentary on the project. It is currently travelling to ten cities throughout China and will educate locals of the project – one which played a major part in changing perceptions of British design in China.
