Walking around the British Pavilion in Shanghai, I was in company of colleagues with whom I'd been working on the project for almost two years. Having been involved in its creation, we experienced the pavilion in a series of flashbacks, juxtaposed with reality. We observed visitors' reactions keenly - and smiled guiltily at the long queues.  

  Heatherwick said that, in a way, we knew that the pavilion would be extraordinary, because we worked hard to make it so. The vision was clear from the beginning, and the design team did not steer an inch away from it.  

  I was involved in the project from the competition stage through to the handover of the schematic design stage to the execution architects in Shanghai. Working with a small team, I led the landscape package, which included the folded ‘urban park' surface, ramp structure and undercroft areas. The design team worked closely with the structural engineers (AKT), environmental engineers (Atelier Ten), and fire consultant (Safe).  

  The main concept behind the landscape was to create an open space in which visitors could take a stroll, sit down, and relax. We wanted to reflect the fact that urban parks are essential to quality of life in cities in the UK. But there is also a more sentimental narrative at play - the pavilion is a gift from Britain and it is unwrapped on site. This piece of wrapping paper thus gives the urban park a character.  

  The landscape surface covers approximately 6,000sqm and it provides a backdrop to the prima donna - the ‘hairy building' as it has been nicknamed. It is no coincidence that they fit together as a seamless whole. Earlier designs for the pavilion ranged from fabric-like forms to tensile structures - and even to vertical green walls.  

  En route to the hairy building, visitors walk underneath the folded landscape, which rises into the air at the four corners, supported by 38 reinforced concrete beams that are hidden within its sandwich structure . The surfaces of the underside are divided into three themed display areas - Green City, Open City and Live City - each unique in its presentation and use of technology. The journey culminates at the Seed Cathedral, accessed via the link bridge.

  The Seed Cathedral is a very appropriate name. The space is naturally ventilated by a plenum beneath the floor, and although it is hot and humid outside, upon entering the Seed Cathedral, there is a great sense of comfort and calm. This is generally followed by gentle exclamations and awestruck expressions as visitors take in the spectacle: 60,000 naturally illuminated acrylic casts containing 217,300 seed varieties, seemingly floating in space like organised stars in a night sky.  

  The Seed Cathedral is a magnificent acknowledgement of the Millennium Seed Bank's conservation endeavours. And the beauty lies in the integration of content and architecture. From outside, the hairy building - like a living structure - gracefully responds to the wind, creating mesmerising patterns.  

  As a design team, we were amazed by the resemblance of the final outcome to the renders. Personally, I found it surreal to walk around the actual landscape where previously I'd only been moving virtually around the 3D model. Needless to say, we insisted on entering areas such as the plant rooms, to have a look at the hidden design elements, and it was amusing to see our fire consultants getting nervous when they could not locate the water tank for the water mist system... 

  We heard that the mayor of Shanghai has given every Shanghai resident a free ticket to the Expo. Back in 1951 - when the first World Fair took place in London - almost a third of the entire population of Britain attended the event. It is about celebrating modern technology and design. To witness the achievements on display from countries around the world is an inspiring experience, and the content of this year's Expo has proved that it is not merely extravagant national posturing. More importantly, it is about the people involved - from the creative team to project management to skilled labourers - and the visitors, their experiences and how they pass on the spirit of innovation and understanding at a global scale.  

My account above is undoubtedly partisan! So if you would like to read other views (and want more technical details) check out the following: 

http://www.archdaily.com/58591/uk-pavilion-for-shanghai-world-expo-2010-heatherwick-studio/ 

http://www.ukshanghaiexpo.com/en/home.php 

http://en.expo2010.cn/c/en_gj_tpl_71.htm 

http://www.heatherwick.com/uk-pavilion/ 

by INGRID HU