Yeosu Expo 2012 / Nicoletti Associati

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’s design for an oceanic placed third in the Yeosu Expo.  The , which was conceived as a Great Blue Whale hurling itself out of the port, intends to represent the Expo’s theme: The Living Ocean and Coast. The draws attention to the fundamental influence of the planet’s oceans and coasts resources, and how dangerous it is for such a fragile ecosystem, to ignore them. The jury added that the has “a strong and powerful form that would become instantly recognizable. The theme of the Expo is symbolically represented with a shape drawn from marine life. The image of the is consistent with the theme of the ocean. Its fluid shape celebrates the nature of water and the marine life that has adapted to it. It makes a very simple but powerful metaphorical relationship. The exhibition space is very practical for post-use.”

More images of the pavilion after the break.

As seen on World Architecture News.

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Cite: Cilento , Karen. "Yeosu Expo 2012 / Nicoletti Associati" 07 Nov 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 21 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/38724>

24 comments

  1. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    its’ symmetry confuses me when i look at the perspectives… seems like it doesnt want to be. other than that, their ability to throw sex in my face was quite successful

  2. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    The form is pleasant, but that’s all that’s mentioned in the comments listed here. I hope there’s more to it than form. I think its a dull, obvious metaphor. The rendering shows an interesting sectional quality. Wish there was a bit more substance to the comments by jurors. “A Great Blue Whale hurling itself out of the port?” Wow.

  3. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    sigh. projects like this make me question why i’m an architecture student. this lame “blue whale” metaphor i find almost offensive.

  4. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I don’t see why some think it’s dull. I think it’s a simple but great idea to associate the Big whale image and marine life for and exhibition center! I recognized right away the whale shape and mouth, and the inside looks like a trip inside the whale’s body, (it also refers somehow to ancient bible story, the man swllowed by a whale)… It’s a great concept. Architecture shouldn’t be just standard cubic or ‘acceptable’ forms…open your mind a little for more creativiy, even if you think a whale is too easy. But, hey, someone had to think about it and do it! They took the risk and the Jury loved the project. So do I.

  5. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    WONDERFUL AND HARMONIOUS!!!
    The architecture of the square has disappeared,
    is old more for the future!!!

    This is the future – fluidity like water!!!

  6. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    It would be great if we could read the presentation-boards so we can understand it a little bit more instead of critizicing because of the visualizations.

  7. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    if the theme of the expo is “The Living Ocean and Coast”, it seems peculiar that this huge pavilion is to be erected in the water, thus harming the coastline, destructing the natural flora and fauna and diverting the coastal streams.

  8. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    my concept is a whale therefor it looks like a whale… its not even about opening your mind…LAME

  9. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Again, nice renderings. But what about scale and proportion? Are we architects loosing our roots? Fine… we have computers and manufacturing skills like never before. But please… draw your projects “materialized” at a scale of 1/20 or 1/5… draw a little man/woman in the same sheet… you will see… it is just another vision… very nice… but not architecture.

  10. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I think it’s very lame to design an oceanic pavillion looking like a whale! Even first year architecture students can do better than this! I’m glad it didnt win the competition!

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