Construction began a while ago on the UK pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010, however it has been said that there may be some controversial changes to the original design when the project is finished towards the end of 2009.
The original design, called the “Pavilion of Ideas,” was a special “box of light” which would house 60,000 shining pixels, each ending with a tiny light source that would move when the wind blew (and Shanghai is famous for its wind!). In the evening and through the night, the pavilion would twinkle with a variety of light effects, and it would be like a romantic show.
However, this design has now been slightly changed, and the “light box” has been opened up. It now has more in common with an enormous gift box than a light box, with the present being given from the UK to China. Officials from the British Consulate-General in Shanghai are extremely pleased with the idea that the gift may symbolise diplomatic ties between the two countries. Inside the pavilion there will be an exhibition about “bringing nature back into the city”, and this popular theme of regeneration can be seen throughout the Shanghai Expo 2010 in a number of different pavilions.
Five British corporations – Diageo, BP, GKN, AstraZeneca and Barclays – will invest half a million pounds each for the pavilion, and the rest will be paid for by the British government, who can clearly see the importance in strengthening ties with China and the business potential that this holds.
Keep checking back for more information about the UK pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010 in the near future!
The team behind the much troubled USA pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 is happy this morning after word got out that they are two-thirds of the way to reaching their target fundraising total of $61m. Much of the money has come from private firms who want to support the Shanghai Expo and put their names on one of the most prestigious pavilions.
USA Pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010 close to fundraising goal
The US Pavilion will have a wide range of features. The first is an organic, sustainable garden on the roof of the construction, which will highlight farming methods and underline the need for a healthy life in the future. The fruits of this work (or perhaps, the vegetable of the work) will be served in a restaurant inside the pavilion itself! This novel idea is one of many such biodiverse and agriculture friendly initiatives at the upcoming Shanghai Expo.
Another key feature of the USA Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo will be the ability for visitors to ‘meet’ people from the future – people who were (theoretically at least) inspired and motivated by the 2010 Expo and who want to share their stories with the world. It may sound complex, but it will be joined with another Expo event alongside it which will analyse certain US cities and give us an idea about what they will look like in 20 years time. This Expo theme of present meeting future is one which will definitely run through a lot of different pavilions.
The USA Expo pavilion itself will be located in very close to the Western edge of the Expo zone – this is regarded as a key area as there will be an entrance situated close to it. This sort of advantage will be just one of the factors that the Americans will try to take advantage of to convince more donors to come on board so that they can reach their $61m target for fundraising befor next year.
We’ll keep you abreast of more news about the USA Pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010 as we get it!
Shanghai’s governing powers have announced that all of their huge fleet of buses will be upgraded in time for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. This announcement has come as a huge relief to people who have been worried by recent problems in other parts of China with older buses and overheating, or worse, explosions.
Buses upgraded for Shanghai Expo 2010
Buses are the most common form of transportation in China, and Shanghai is the modern (technology) capital of the country. Many of the buses in Shanghai are brand new, however even those with full functioning air-conditioning do not have emergency windows for people to escape in the event of an emergency. Well this is no longer the case.
After a recent bus fire and explosion in Chengdu, the authorities in Shanghai, China have announced that the newer buses will have emergency windows at the back fitted, and older buses in the fleet will gradually be fitted with the emergency windows, but the project will be finished in time for the beginning of the Expo in 2010!
The Expo itself will have a wide ranging bus service which will travel between Expo sites, as well as linking all of the city’s popular toursits destinations. Foreigners and tourists will be catered for, as well as local people who rely on Shanghai city buses to get to and from work or University.