Vessel observation tower in New York. Photo: Gary Hershorn
The usual approach to architectural design is to move from the general idea to the details. Thomas Heatherwick is so immersed in detail, especially in the creation of public spaces, that it seems as if he is doing the opposite: from perfected details, shapes and textures he puts together, like a puzzle, a perfected whole.
Heatherwick himself talks about the specifics of his studio's work as follows: "Finding a design solution is like solving a crime. We are a bit like an investigative team. We analyze, research versions. Then we remove the excess"
But not everything is so simple. Heatherwick is able to create new entities from parts of the past, present, and future. He reinterprets stairs, bridges, walls, roofs, plazas and even bay windows, as, say, in the Lantern House apartment towers, almost completed on the famous High Line promenade.
Residential towers Lantern House, New York. Image credit: Heatherwick Studio
The convex bay windows of the Lantern House are a development of a design idea implemented earlier in Cape Town during the reconstruction of the silo tower and its transformation into the Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary Art.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art MOCAA in Cape Town. Photo: Iwan Baan
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art MOCAA in Cape Town. Photo: Iwan Baan
Thomas Heatherwick rethinks the typology of public and exhibition spaces. For example, the Vessel observation tower is not only a spectacular mega-sculpture, but primarily a prototype of vertical public space for dense cities.
It is impossible not to mention the UK pavilion at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, where herbarium exhibits from the seed bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew were fused into seven-meter rods of optical fiber that conduct light.
The National Pavilion of Great Britain at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Photo: © Daniele Mattioli
The National Pavilion of Great Britain at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Photo: © Daniele Mattioli
When the studio first published the project proposal, almost no one believed that the Great Seed Cathedral could be built in exact accordance with the spectacular visualizations. But Heatherwick succeeded. After the end of the exhibition, the seeds of the "Dandelion" - that's what the Chinese viewers called this amazing structure - spread all over the world: 60 thousand transparent rods were distributed between schools in Great Britain and China.
The National Pavilion of Great Britain at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Photo: © Daniele Mattioli
For all their futuristic nature, Thomas Heatherwick's objects are absolutely, as they say now, usable. Function is never a victim of design. Although sometimes Heatherwick's design is so expensive that it is rejected even in the world's financial capital: the scandal surrounding the budget of the Garden Bridge building in London caused serious damage to the architect's reputation.
The Garden Bridge project in London remained unrealized. Image credit: Heatherwick Studio
However, no one doubts: if the ambitious project had not been blocked by public activists, this bridge would not only provide an additional pedestrian connection between the banks of the Thames, but also add to the list of world-class architectural masterpieces. "It's not just a bridge with green whiskers!" - Thomas tried to defend his project. Well, failures are an integral part of any success story.
This will be the landscape park Pier55 in New York after the completion of construction. Image credit: Pier55 Inc./Heatherwick Studio
Construction of Pier 55 is well underway. Photo: Michael Young
The idea of supports that were designed for the Garden Bridge and resemble water lilies, lilies or tulips was not rejected. Right now, a completely banal old pier in New York is being transformed into a futuristic public park. January photos of Pier 55 show that the project is entering its final phase.
Also due for completion in 2020 is the 1000 Trees mixed-use complex in Shanghai, where lily-shaped concrete supports are topped with tree containers.
Multifunctional complex 1000 Trees, Shanghai. Photo: Heatherwick Studio
All of Heatherwick's structures, sculptures and buildings can be called breakthrough experimental objects - they demonstrate the possibilities of new materials and technologies in engineering and industrial construction
Coal Drop Yards is a public space and shopping center in London. Photo: Luke Hayes
Despite the fact that Heatherwick does not have a specialized architectural education (he is a designer with degrees from Manchester Polytechnic University and the Royal College of Art), in 2007 he was made an honorary member of the RIBA - this is how the Institute recognized Thomas' services to society.
Heatherwick admits that creating sculptures for private collections never seemed like an interesting task to him. Quite the opposite: "For me, culture is everywhere around you: it's in the public toilets, it's in the infrastructure. It's the health service, the schools." Well, that is what is important to all of us. We believe in you, master!
