Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010
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Apr 2010
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The Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010, which starts in two days, is a combine effort of Chinese and Saudi designers. The pavilion has a “moon boat” shape and is surrounded by deserts and seas, just like Saudi Arabia. Along with the 150 date palms that are now planted in the pavilion, it’s main attraction is a huge IMAX screen. The 1,600-square-meter screen is larger than any other cinema screen on earth. Short films will be presented on the screen.
You can see more images and a video after the break.
RT @archdaily: Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://archdai.ly/aKnp4M
This project is awesome on so many levels.
It hurts my eye’s just looking at it… I think you need to get out more.
Out!? They don’t let them out!
Am I sleep?….. Horrific….. As I see compiuter sketch, they are even not able exectly build them-own project!
your spelling would suggest that you are indeed asleep.
That said, I think this building represents Saudi architecture better than anything serious ever could. that’s not a compliment.
From a country that requires women to cover themselves from head to toe in black fabric…I wish they would cover this up! Horrible.
Moon boat? Looks more like a giant toilet to me.
The video is definitely worth watching, if only for the bizarre spaceship landing sequence. Plus, it’s the only way to learn more about the “happy garden on earth”, “huge shadow place”, and “VIP hanging basket”.
Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://goo.gl/fb/DAseC
Call me crazy but I think the renderings show a different form / design than what is in the picture. I would much rather look at the renderings than see this thing in person. A true case of renderings being deceptive.
It’s Like a Dragon Ball Z training planet!
Indeed.
Money don´t buy good taste
I s**t you not!
EEEEEEEEEEEPIC FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAIL!
I think that a simple “lol” will just do
Nasty design! Typical of a modern Middle Eastern country to have an all flash no substance design, as long as we throw as much money at it as we can to hell with the result. Then again, if an Expo is to represent the values of your country, then maybe this does achieve this pavilions purpose after all….
My point is exemplified in the IMAX screen – “Larger than any other cinema on Earth”. Figures.
While I totally agree with you, it’s also typical of design firms working for arab countries to accept that condition, all glitter no thought. I know because I worked for one of them based in Miami, where all that mattered was who got to travel next time to stay at the most expensive hotel in the world.
well this isn’t good…. luckily its permanent ;0
The flower trim is a perfect element for the world’s biggest Ramen bowl.
Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010. http://bit.ly/cyjnkh
What a joke!!!
RT @archdaily: Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://archdai.ly/aKnp4M
o I got it, is a flying bowl
or maybe a prehistorical giant mussel?
RT @archdaily: Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://archdai.ly/aKnp4M
RT @archdaily: Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://archdai.ly/aKnp4M
Wow, this is architecture gone really wrong. Isn’t there an editorial committee that kind of judges the pavilions before they get approved for construction or something?! Damn this is ugly!
Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/amMdlW
Horrid
what a pile of rubbish, main attraction – IMAX?? sums it up really….horrific
typical attidute, i have money and i know better and a western practise eager to please at a high price offcourse made it work.
well, not work, as it good taste, work as in, built it.
Histroy will remember actions like this and judge them. or maybe not. none cares eventually about horrid architecture and it will perish in time with the money they wasted it on it.
O_u_t_r_a_g_e !!! Especially in times of crisis.
…And those perspectives are from another project, right?
they must be joking right?
A slice of earth raised from the ground and then held by a bowl shaped container in position with the help of a number of columns ,,,why ???.
A flying elephant AS CONCEPT would have been just as impressive , this building at best expresses a society with questionable purpose.
the big joke is with whats on top…. A TENT ????really…add a camel while your at it!!!!
what is wrong here..? why this project fail? si pensamos en la idea es interesante, pero la imagen proyectada está errada, deliberadamente textual, literal hasta para los niños. si tan solo hubiesen sido un poco más abstractos se concentrarían en la composición. aún me parece que tiene más mérito que el pabellón de chile (demasiado abstracto)
THERE IS A LONG QUEUE WAITING TO GET IN THOUGH, THE CROWD CAN’T BE WRONG
yeah, the crowd (a default condition in China) in the largest city in the world in the most populated country in the world has come to see the world’s largest IMAX screen – of course it can’t be wrong.
One of the longest queue in the expo. It takes you 5 hours to get in… and then I was wondering why people are so eager to wait in line…
The design is indeed not that good BUT to be fair the picture showing the result is really bad.
It looks much more like the rendering in real life. Check the pictures here for example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/remkotanis/4559251665/
Staggeringly childish design. It’s a shame its the Saudi pavilion otherwise at least it could have been converted to a massive punch bowl and everyone could get pissed up and have a good laugh.
As for the comments about the ‘crowd can’t be wrong’ – since when does volume equate with good judgement? How many times has history shown the masses to be erroneous in their support – Germany 1930-45? Bon Jovi’s 100 million?
its a spaceship not a moon boat landed in shanghai..
الفكره جميله جدا ومعبرة ، سأكون هناك مع بداية الصيف بأذن الله
The idea is very beautiful and expressive, I’ll be there with the beginning of summer
The idea is very beautiful and expressive, I’ll be there with the beginning of summer
Saudi Arabia deserve little more respect….the design idea is interesting but still looks very megalomania …. instead of taking the shrine spirit of the Islamic country and representing its purity and and richness it represent a very confused architecture that uses wealth instead of brain …. i am sure that next time Saudi Arabia will hire architects that can turn a vision of a country into an architecture piece and not the opposite.
i think that many other Arab country lives in the same confusion between colonialism and its local cultural heritage and thats exactly what we can see in this pavilion.
The Expo reveals this dilemma in many other countries that look toward globalism instead of localisms !
We’re all aware that Saudi Arabians are too proud to admit this project has been a failure. The queues outside are for the imax screen, not for this awful pavilion.
i am from saudi arabia …. and i don’t like the design …..but i believe thats no one have the right to Making fun of another culture……why all the hate ?
i dont like the design and the concept is very weird the form of the building is not that much….
i think that The problem is that the building is not related to the culture of Saudi Arabia….
Saudi culture is not only tents and palm….Saudi culture age more than 1400 years….
i give the building from 10 /6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_arabia
Quote : “Nicolas says:
It’s Like a Dragon Ball Z training planet!”
Yeah, i thought exactly the same! You can check the picture for those who don’t know that masterpiece of architecture.
http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/File:TheLookout.png
thats a vary bad shot u cav see the pavillon as it is on
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=Saudi+Arabia+Pavilion&m=text#page=0
Reading: "Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/yufntn )
Well, I agree about the approvement of the crowd. It builds a patrimony conscience.
…BUT the point is the crowd likes anything that looks better or smarter than usual. Better… For them, lays.
The “usual” is a variable value.
the renderings lied!!!
I’ll not criticize anymore because I saw further images ’bout the building. It’s not that bad, folks.
Guess people on site put it just to cause polemics… (:
Pelo menos um pavilhão vai ser mais feio que o do Brasil na Expo Shanghai 2010 – http://bit.ly/abcNdy
I like, that it is ecological (it has palms on the roof).
I started my comment while looking up more about the pavilion. But my reply got too long so I posted it in my blog for those who are interested.
http://bash-mohandis.blogspot.com/2010/04/saudi-arabia-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo.html
I agree with most of the comments about the design, but it’s just absurd to use such words. Are we commenting on TMZ, or is it really a scientific matter?!!
Sheesh!..looks like a spaceship that just landed!
nice design for a water tank..!!
Funny, your are gudging the design or the country. money not well spent??? you guys can do better……of course!!! you can do better than this, you can do better than that, whats new
I take it you like it then, Faisal? Some people are easily pleased.
#arquitetura fantástica – Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://ow.ly/1G2jT #architecture
I’m Saudi …
Is not bad …
but, I don’t like it , I feel also the concept is not very strong and it hard for non-Muslims understanding
I wish in the next time be better
وعاشت بلادي المملكة العربية السعودية
is there punch in it?? i mean, with alcohol it’ll may be bearable… lots of alcohol.
Well, good luck getting alcohol in Saudi….
Ralph:
the truth of the matter is that this shape and concept is never intended for you, it is a concept and design for the chinese who will actually visit it…..and in millions. if you don’t like it …..fine, who cares
The concept is that its a moon boat right? So it looks like the moon crossed with a boat. Nothing like patronising your audience with the high concept design, eh?
I can only assume you do think this is an example of good design given you didn’t say otherwise. Fine.
superb saudi pavilion keep it up india must do better
rafiudeen
I’m an architect. A master Student at the architecture association school of architecture in London, the best architectural school in the world, and I’m proud to be saudi and i think it’s one of the most beautiful designs in the expo if it’s not the most beautiful, technical, simple and functional,. I think you are taking it personally. Non of you had given any critical opinion. typical western, why all this hate.
Arch Ahmed. So, what is it then? Are you a Masters student at the AA or are you an architect? Because obviously you can’t be an architect until you’re fully qualified. As for the AA being the best architectural school in the world, well, I’m sure its good to keep telling reminding yourself of that, regardless of whether its the case or not (its not, btw). If you think this is one of ‘the most beautiful designs of the expo’ I really fear for the kind of work you must be trotting out. The AA isn’t the best architecture school in the world, but the majority of its students would recognise this pavilion for the mess that it is and could easily produce a more successful design themselves.
I think it’s beautiful, simple, technological and functional design. Also i think that non of you are professional and I think you are taking it personally. I haven’t seen any critical opinion from any of you.
Arch Ahmed said: “None of you had given any critical opinion. typical western, why all this hate?”
Whoa there boy – who says that everyone who’s criticising this pavilion is Western? Why try to bring some political angle into this that isn’t there? Its just a bad design, it could have been a bad design by any country, it just so happens that its a bad design by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If you seriously think that people here are being critical of it because it is the KSA’s pavilion, then you are the one who is profoundly lacking in critical reasoning ability. Ever think maybe you’re being a bit too patriotic here, Ahmed and its clouding your design judgement. What grade do you honestly think you’d get if you turned out that design at the AA?
5:52 PM Apr 29th
RT @archdaily: Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 http://archdai.ly/aKnp4M