Wellfairytale by BIG
The Danish Pavilion in Expo 2010 Shanghai is a loop, a velodrom and an
interactive fairytale
BIG, 2+1 and ARUP relaunch the bike as a modern and sustainable urban
alternative to the increasing car traffic in Shanghai.The pavilion’s
1500 city bikes are offered for general use to the visitors during EXPO
2010. After the World Expo, it can be moved and relocated for example
in People’s Park - as a transferium for the bikes of Shanghai. The
building is a loop, housing the exhibition “wellfairytales”
in a linear sequence.
Niels Lund Petersen, associate and project leader at BIG says: "The
Danish pavilion should not only exhibit the Danish virtues. Through interaction,
the visitors are able to actually experience some of Copenhagen’s
best attractions – the city bike, the harbor bath, the nature playground
and an ecological picnic”
Both Shanghai and Copenhagen are harbor cities. But in Denmark the polluted
harbor activities have been replaced by harbor parks and cultural institutions,
and the water is so pure that you can swim in it. In the heart of the
pavillion you find the Mermaid pool, which is filled with sea water from
Copenhagen’s harbor, brought to Shanghai on a tanker.
The Chinese guest can swim in the pool, and not only hear about clean
water, but feel and taste it. The sculptor Edvard Eriksen’s original
Mermaid, will visit China, as a specific example of the pavilion offering
a real experience of Danish urban life.
Mike Lippert, creativ director of 2+1 adds: “By lending out The Little
Mermaid, not only do we offer the Chinese people an exclusive experience.
Her trip will also be an event, which can create global media attention
on Copenhagen. It’s a signal about a cultural open mindedness - we
lend out one of our most important national symbols”
While the Little Mermaid is in Shanghai her usual location in Denmark
Copenhagen will be occupied by the works of three leading Chinese artists.
The artist will take turns in presenting their personal interpretation
of the sculpture. The Little Mermaid is the main attraction in the pavilion,
but the exhibition will focus on new Danish fairy tales. The visitors
will meet the Danes and their way of life.
The World Expo aims to promote the exchange of ideas and development of
the world economy, culture, science and technology, to allow exhibitors
to publicize and display their achievements and improve international
relationships. Accordingly, the World Expo with its 150-year history is
regarded as the Olympic Games of the economy, science and technology.
The project is led by BIG’s founder Bjarke Ingels and associate Niels
Lund Petersen in collaboration with idea bureau 2+1 and ARUP AGU. Ingels
and Petersen’s previous collaborations include SLU - the redevelopment
of Slussen in Stockholm, several international hotels, and recently TLT
- a tilted high rise in China.
Flemming Borreskov, CO in Realdania states:”The winning project shows,
in a very tangible way, that Denmark to a great extent can to contribute
to the international scene, in regard to convincing solutions on future
urban design and development. BIG’s project fully live up to the
EXPO theme: “Better City – Better Life.”
Bjarke Ingels on the pavilion:
“The pavilion is designed, as a piece of Copenhagen’s bicycle
track, tied as a knot. 1500 city bikes located at the roof scape, offer
our Chinese hosts a chance to experience the Danish urban way. Thus, when
you arrive to Expo, you visit Denmark, get a bike and explore the rest
of the world!”
Bjarke Ingels on the content:
“When we visited the World Exhibition in Zaragossa, we were stunned
by the artificial content. State propaganda in paper maché. The
Danish Expo pavilion 2010 is the real deal, and not just endless talking.
You can ride the city bike, take a swim in the harbor bath, and see the
authentic Little Mermaid.”
Bjarke Ingels on the Little Mermaid:
“The purpose of moving The Little Mermaid is to show that open-mindedness
doesn’t necessarily cause you to lose origin or culture. Typically,
national symbols are static – a fortress or a tower which is unshakable.
Lately, Denmark’s image as a tolerant and open-minded country has
been at stake in the global media-scape. The perception of a nation, with
a national symbol so dynamic that it can be moved to China for 6 months
is a great way of showing that Denmark is still open-minded and liberal
towards the rest of the world. “
“It is also convenient that she is much easier to move than the Eiffel
Tower”
”speaking of sustainability, it is considerably more resource efficient
moving The Little Mermaid to China, than moving 1.3 billion Chinese to
Copenhagen.”
Bjarke Ingels on BIG in China:
“The purpose of inviting some of the best Chinese modern artist to
reinterpret The Little Mermaid is to get a new perspective on Denmark
and Danish culture. We have realized that we can’t keep admiring
our own mirrored image being a part of the global world and culture. We
need to understand our fellow human beings on this planet and they need
to do the same. Last week, we met Ai Wei wei in Beijing, and he has already
accepted the invitation: I am looking forward to visiting Langelinie in
2010!”
”The Danish pavilion in Shanghai is a significant step in following
and meeting the interest from abroad. It is our Project in China, where
we have just won a contest …We have experienced a great deal of international
interest, which beside Scandinavia includes ongoing projects in Eastern
Europe, the Middle-East, Central-Asia and Asia. The urban development
in for instance Dubai and Kuala Lumpur outdoes any development in Scandinavia
in both complexity and ambition, which makes it to a unique laboratory
for new architecture.”
Shanghai Expo Pavilion - UK
Shanghai Expo 2010 - Spanish Pavilion
Shanghai tower
BIG
Shanghai building : Tallest building
Shanghai hotel : Songjiang
Chinese Architecture
Hong Kong and Shanghai
Bank
Shanghai Architecture
Shanghai World Expo 2010 : RÉN building
also by BIG
Shanghai Expo UK Winner
: Heatherwick Studios
World Architecture : e-architect
- a guide to key buildings across the globe
Comments / photos for the Shanghai Expo Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
Danish Pavilion Shanghai 2010 - page : adrian
welch / isabelle lomholt