CHINA
The exterior of the Atelier Feichang-Jianzhu's design for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 consists of thousands of clear plastic tubes made from used CD cases, which can be recycled once the event is over. Coloured LED lights will be programmed to change the appearance of the pavilion throughout the day. Sustainability measures include a solar thermal energy system on the roof which will heat water and generate power for the expo. Rainwater will also be collected and used in a misting system which will lower the temperate and clear the air inside the pavilion. The $26 million pavilion will include 60,000 7.5 cm-long acrylic "hairs" and will move with the wind.
UNITED STATES
The official unveiling ceremony of The New Amsterdam Pavilion will take place on 9 September. Designed by Ben van UNStudio, the New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion is a gift from the Netherlands to New York in honour of 400 years of friendship. The unveiling will take place in Battery Park, where the Peter Minuit Plaza is currently undergoing renovations. Part of this Plaza will be renamed New Amsterdam Plein. The Pavilion will serve as a gathering place for New Yorkers, commuters and tourists and will be a tribute to the common history and shared values of the US and the Netherlands.
SINGAPORE
Ole Shereen's design for The Interlace includes layers of horizontal towers stacked askew of each other, creating a selection of views for future residents. Thirty-one six-storey blocks are set on four 'Superlevels' made of 24-stories, but most Superlevel blocks range from six to 18-stories to create the appearance of a stepped building. The building, which resembles a game of Jenga, will be made up of 1,040 apartments and its shape takes into consideration the sun and wind while its balconies add green space to the design. "The name, The Interlace, reinforces the interconnectivity between man and the space, community and natural environment surrounding him," said Patricia Chia, CEO of CapitaLand Residential Singapore.
GERMANY
Bauhaus is turning 90 this year and Berlin is hosting "Bauhaus: A Conceptual Model." The exhibition provides an overview of the school, and was organised by Germany's three main Bauhaus institutions, the Bauhaus Archive Berlin, the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau and the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, with assistance from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It will consist of over 1,000 objects including models, studies, paintings, photographs and furniture with the exhibition progressing both chronologically and thematically, with different colours corresponding to different times and topics.
