UK Pavilion Steals the Show at 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Of all the pavilions at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the UK Pavilion is arguably the most popular. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the structure is pierced by 60,000 transparent rods that will illuminate the interior of the pavilion with natural light during the day. At night, the 25-foot (7.5 meters) rods will transport light from the inside to the exterior, allowing the structure to glow.

Inside the transparent rods, the pavilion will house the largest collection of wild plant seeds in the world - Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. Visitors will be able to access the "Seed Cathedral" by a series of walkways, which will depict the role of nature in UK cities in the past, present and in the future.