Today’s Big Picture features amazing images from the soon-to-be-opened Shanghai World Expo.
One thing struck me, however: many of the international pavilions demonstrate design that is full of whimsy and beauty, whereas the U.S. pavilion looks surprisingly like a metal-clad industrial park building.
The UK Pavilion.
The Serbia Pavilion.
The USA Pavilion.
So, what happened? Am I missing something? Did someone forget to send an RFP to America’s most creative architectural firms? Frankly, this looks more like a Nissan dealership than a demonstration of the best we have to offer.
The "Nissan Pavilion."
Ah, now I know the reason: one visit to the USA Pavilion’s official website, and your eyes will be blinded by the dizzying array of corporate sponsors. I cannot imagine any designer or architect pulling off a work of staggering beauty under the blinding glare of that many blue suits.
It may be time to wake up and realize the road to success and innovation no longer lies in turning everything over to the mega-money-machine. (Wow, when I started this post, I never imagined I’d end up in a rant. I really just wanted to post some pretty pictures of the Shanghai Expo. Honestly.)
Update No. 1
Here’s a brief exchange with NPR’s Louisa Lim in Shanghai:
HANSEN: What are people saying about the U.S. exhibit?
LIM: Well, the U.S. pavilion has had a difficult road. It almost wasn’t built. America has very tight restrictions, making federal funding for expo pavilions almost impossible. So they had to raise $61 million from corporate sponsors to build the pavilion and it was designed by a Canadian, in fact, and has been compared to a suburban office park….So far it’s not among the very sort of hot pavilions. The newspapers quoted one man as saying maybe he was too old for it, but he found it very dull. And young people have complained that it’s too commercial.
Update No. 2
For an insider’s view of what really went wrong, read this piece by Bob Jacobson.
Maybe I have a filthy mind (okay, I do) but the UK pavilion looks like a giant sphincter to me. But, agreed, the US pavilion has all the charm and whimsy of a UPS package sorting plant.
Fact Check: The USA Pavilion was designed BEFORE any single corporate sponsor was secured!
Thanks, Ralph. That means there is even less of an excuse for poor design
Hi, Ralph. Now I’m confused about your comment. According to NPR’s Louisa Lim in Shanghai, “America has very tight restrictions, making federal funding for expo pavilions almost impossible. So they had to raise $61 million from corporate sponsors to build the pavilion and it was designed by a Canadian…” (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126453429)
I don’t know whether that funding came before or after design, but I would assume the corporate sponsors would have had some input into the design. Perhaps I’m incorrect. Can you cite any sources that indicate the sponsors had no input?
I think Ralph is right. Most commonly when fund-raising for a building the design is well developed… let’s say 80% complete. The sponsors want to know what they are getting into.
Yes, it turns out this whole design proposal process was a debacle, and kept pretty much out of the public eye. How sad that we ended up with such a sad showing.
I agree with michael if it looks like a Nissan Dealership (or Staples, or AT&T Store, or Airport Terminal) and functions like a Nissan Dealership (or Staples or At&T or Airport Terminal) , then it is.
Now, I hate to see how that applies to Julie’s comment!
And a building made completely of Lite-Brites! Who knew Serbia had such whimsy?
Absolutely embarrassing.
Keep in mind that by April 2009 the pavilion only had $1.5 million of the $61 million budget. The rest wasn’t raised until July of that same year.
The architect, who was Canadian, was hired in March 2008. So was the programming firm.
So I wouldn’t blame this on the financial sources. More likely corruption or incompetence from within.
Hi, Benson. Thank you for the insights. Yes, very embarrassing. For more insight on what happened from someone on the inside, read this.
I just went to the usa pavilion and to be honest it was the most crowded, and talked about one that i could see. And it was the best one i had gone to as well. Pakistan was #2 lol