Worshiping Nature: Breathtaking Seed Cathedral in Shanghai
June 11, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is well underway with some of the most wondrous sights ever seen at any World’s Fair. It’s the largest and most expensive World’s Fair ever, with over 190 countries participating. Although each pavilion holds amazing sights and sounds, one has stood out to nature lovers around the world: the UK Pavilion, otherwise known as the Seed Cathedral, designed by superstar British designer Thomas Heatherwick. The huge structure is almost like a living thing, with its undulating “hairs” and the promise of life encapsulated in each.
The Seed Cathedral is among the most striking sights at the Expo. It stands at 66 feet high and features 60,000 transparent fiber optic rods, each 25 feet long and containing one or more seeds embedded in one end. The outside of the structure resembles a puffy dandelion about to disperse its seeds to the world on the wind. The rods sway and move gracefully with every breeze, giving the impression that the entire monument is alive. But the inside is even more breathtaking.
The interior of the huge structure is illuminated with exterior light that trickles down the rods. At the end of each rod you will find real seeds donated by China’s Kunming Institute of Botany in cooperation with the UK’s Kew Royal Botanic Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank Project. The potential for life and the future of the planet is encased in each of these tiny seeds, a fact that becomes strikingly potent when you are surrounded by thousands of them in this mesmerizing place.
Heatherwick’s inspiration when designing the pavilion was to create an structure that was a direct reflection of its contents and purpose. The pavilion is a testament to the power and beauty of life, and it grandly echoes the grace of nature and the beauty of plants. It also stands out among the other pavilions at the Expo, most of which are technology-based and filled with flickering images and booming sounds. The Seed Cathedral, by contrast, is a peaceful and almost meditative space where one can quietly enjoy the diversity of nature’s promise.
At night, the structure glows from within: light sources in each rod allow light to travel outward, creating an ethereal sight for passers-by. Inside, the seeds are all illuminated individually to highlight their form and structure. The fiber optic rods were designed to be sensitive to fluctuating exterior light changes, so even clouds passing overhead are experienced within the Seed Cathedral as subtle flickers of light and shadow. The overall effect is one of tranquility and a fundamental connection with nature.
(all images via: PopSci)
Once the Expo is over in October 2010, the seeds will continue life in a new role. The fiber optic “hairs” will be distributed to hundreds of schools in China and the UK – much like dandelion seeds dispersing in the wind. Each one will be a special piece of history marking the collaboration between China and the UK to create this truly unforgettable display.
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Backwards Vending: Machine Pays For Recyclables
May 28, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems, Technology & Gadgets. ]
Most of us are familiar with the concept of vending machines: after you put money in, the machine gives you something in return. But this new vending machine, called The Dream Machine, works in exactly the opposite way. When you put in a can or bottle to recycle, it gives you points and prizes in return.
(image via: KingDesmond)
The idea behind the Dream Machine is to encourage people to recycle even when they’re away from home. Containers from drinks consumed away from home are typically the least likely to be recycled because of the lack of public recycling facilities. It’s estimated that we throw away, rather than recycle, around 100 billion recyclable cans and bottles every year. Even where there are facilities for recycling away from home, most people lack the motivation to seek them out. This system gives the public a reason to hang onto their cans and bottles until they spot a Dream Machine.
The machines are the work of Pepsi, Waste Management and Keep America Beautiful. Manufactured by GreenOps, the machines provide points which can be redeemed at Greenopolis.com or in the store where the machine is located. Users simply scan the bar code on the can or bottle, then feed it into the machine. Each machine can hold around 300 containers before it needs to be emptied.
While not many of the machines are currently in use out in the world, thousands more will be installed over the summer and throughout the year. Ultimately, the program is expected to bring in approximately 400 million containers annually. The Dream Machines won’t interfere with state bottle recycling programs, which offer a refund of a few cents per bottle recycled, since the machines will only be installed in places where traditional recycling options aren’t available.
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