HUNGARIAN PAVILION SHANGHAI EXPO 2010

Vania Pieck 186901

LAYOUTS

DESIGN PLAN

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

Designed by Tamás Lévai, the Hungarian pavillion was one of the most acknowledged and talked about pavilions in Shanghai’s Exposition of 2010. One of the main element in the pavillion is the so called Gömböc, which is an homogenous object with one

stable and one unstable equilibrium point, thus with

two equilibrium altogether on a horizontal surface. The

Gomboc is a symbol of the unremitting and creative

spirit of the Hungary nation. This pavilion was designed

for it to lead the public towards this “Gömböc” through

an amazing and thrilling path, this path is represented

mainly with wood, with the intention of evoking empty

space, light and sounds. The environment around the ”Gömböc”provoques a

dynamic game between the ceiling covered with these

sticks of wood at different levels from each other that let

light show at the tip of their structure and the sound of

nature around it.

These sticks of wood hanging seem like stars in the sky because of the light they emane; the lights keep changing constantly in order to give you a welcoming visit. So resuming the most important elements of this pavilion are: the

“Gömböc” itself, empty space, natural lights, artificial lights and the sounds.

This pavillion has been built with over more than 1000 wood rods on

the ceiling, these wooden rods not only reflect light, but 600 of these

rods also rise and fall according to the music on its sorrounding, this

way the visitors may feel being in a forest having both audio and

visual impacts. Wood rods are musical instruments themselves and

can make sweet sounds when tapped. The sounds change in the

morning, afternoon and evening. The National Pavilion Day was a

chance to showcase a feast of Hungarian culture.

The pavilion was decorated by natural materials: wood, pebble stone floor,

surrounded by a water curtain representing green living in the city.

The main theme of this pavilion was to give harmony, creativity and

hospitality and even though I haven’t actually been to it by watching the videos

of this amazing pavilion I can tell it really synchronizes and brings a whole of

elements altogether into an experience of freedom, nature and freshness, all this

thanks to the sounds, the lights and the wood all around the place, this is for me

an example of architecture in movement, cause you get to experience a whole lot

of emotions just by entering and the wooden rods are constantly moving making

you feel in a “alive” place. The “Gomboc” is a nice element to end with.

This whole pavilion ends you giving a nice Hungarian experience by living and

getting attached to each element involved in it.

The Pavilion won Silver Prize in pavilion design of Category C.

Bibliography:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t49rxr8A8wA&feature=related

http://www.archdaily.com/33339/hungarian-pavillion-for-shanghai-expo-2010/