Danish Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo 2010 by BIG

The proposals of the Copenhagen office Bjarke Ingels are always very striking in form, and their winning project Danish Pavilion at Expo 2010 is no exception, resembling a giant bow, knot, or shell. The monolithic self-supporting structure made of steel was created in collaboration with the engineering firm Arup, and the internal content was assisted by 2+1 Ideas Agency. The double façade, painted white, separates the inner part from the outer exhibition areas. The outer façade depicts the silhouette of a Danish city through openings in the steel (in the current version, the silhouette has disappeared, and the perforated ornament is much more abstract). However, the Danish Pavilion does not aim to imitate the environment of Danish cities; rather, it strives to be as communicative as possible. Inside the pavilion, visitors will experience an interactive exhibition. There will be 1,500 bicycles available, representing a modern and environmentally friendly way of urban life. In the center of the Danish Pavilion, a large swimming pool filled with water from the Copenhagen Harbor will be created, allowing visitors to swim. In the middle of the pool, and thus in the entire pavilion, the original statue of "The Little Mermaid" will be placed. This famous statue will leave its rock in the Copenhagen Harbor for the very first time, where it was installed in 1913. During the six-month duration of the World Expo, this symbol of Copenhagen will be replaced by its Chinese "replacement" (the artistic intention of a live broadcast from Shanghai). According to Bjarke Ingels, "it is much more effective to move the Little Mermaid to China than 1.3 billion Chinese people to Copenhagen."

Text from the official brochure of the Danish Pavilion
The Danish Pavilion offers an opportunity to experience Danish urban life. On foot or by bike, you can visit the original statue of the famous Little Mermaid. You can let your child run around in the playground. Here, you can enjoy a picnic and dip your fingers in the Harbor Pool water.
The Danish Pavilion is wrapped around the Harbor Pool. The building itself consists of a seamless steel structure designed as a double spiral with pedestrian and cycling paths winding up two turns to a height of twelve meters and back down.
In this way, you can experience the Danish exhibition inside and outside at two different speeds - as a leisurely stroll with enough time to absorb the surroundings or as a cycling trip, where the city and urban life are quickly swept away.

Bicycle and Bench
The pavilion's roof is covered with a light blue artificial material known from Danish cycling paths. The blue cycling path continues inside in areas where bicycles ride.
Danish artist Jeppe Hein designed a social bench that runs through the entire pavilion, both inside and outside. The white steel benches serve not only an artistic and social function but also as a barrier between pedestrians and cyclists.