We devised and managed the competition to find a combined team of architects, designers and curators to create the award-winning UK Pavilion and its contents for our client – the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Our services included managing all information, advising (throughout the shortlisting process, technical panel and midcompetition reviews) and coordinating the jury. We organised a public exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, compilation of the final report and a commemorative book.
The FCO wanted to attract as wide a pool as possible in the design and architectural professions and we recommended a press campaign as the most effective way to generate interest, together with internet access to the project background and data.
We also commissioned a graphic designer to establish a style and logo to tie all communications together and we set up a website dedicated to the competition; an invaluable tool for managing PR and for communications with the shortlisted teams.
Heatherwick Studio won the competition. The pavilion opened in May 2010 and was a huge success, both attracting the crowds and transforming the Chinese perception of the UK to that of a modern, creative, innovative and advanced technological nation.
The Pavilion’s design was widely recognised – it was awarded Britain’s top international architectural award, the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects’ Lubetkin Prize 2010. It also won gold in the Expo’s own design awards for larger exhibits.
