Growing a Building - The BioRock Pavilion

Michael Pawlyn has been at the forefront of nature-inspired and nature-driven design since his work with Nicholas Grimshaw on the famous Eden Project in the UK more than 20 years ago. Since then his practice of biomimetic architecture has combined a profound relationship with nature, a wholehearted commitment to building craft, and an ongoing exploration of the capabilites of computational design. His latest work is the BioRock Pavilion, ‘the first time,’ he says, ‘a building has been grown in a way comparable to biological growth processes of self-assembly with locally abundant materials.’ His project architect Adam Holloway sees it like this: ‘Designing this project wasn't just about shaping space; it was about pioneering a fundamentally different way of making architecture. We're not just designing a static object, but guiding a dynamic, living process – creating architecture that integrates with, and even promotes, marine ecosystems. Design Shanghai is proud and privileged to present such a radical, beautiful and optimistic project – truly uplifting to the spirit.