"We were aware cauldrons had been getting bigger, higher, fatter as each Olympics happened and we felt we shouldn't try to be even bigger than the last ones." These are the words of Thomas Heatherwick whose concept for the cauldron for the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony burst into life this weekend. Here are some photos of a scale model of the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron designed by Thomas Heatherwick, which has now been added to the ongoing exhibition of his work at the V&A museum, plus drawings from the designer.

The Cauldron designed by londoner Thomas Heatherwick, consists of 205 copper 'petals', one for each competing nation or territory. They were brought into the stadium by each team as part of the athletes’ procession then attached to long pipes in a ring at the centre of the arena.

An exhibit about the Olympic Cauldron has been added to Heatherwick’s ongoing exhibition at the V&A museum. Heatherwick explains how Olympic organisers have tried to escape the shadow of Beijing’s spectacular opening ceremony in 2008 by focusing on London’s reputation for ideas.

Dates: 31 May - 30 September, 2012.
Venue: V&A South Kensington Cromwell Road London SW7 2RL. U.K.

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Thomas Heatherwick established in 1994, Heatherwick Studio recognised for its work in architecture, urban infrastructure, sculpture, design and strategic thinking. Today a team of 180, including architects, designers and makers, works from a combined studio and workshop in Kings Cross, London.

At the heart of the studio’s work is a profound commitment to finding innovative design solutions, with a dedication to artistic thinking and the latent potential of materials and craftsmanship. This is achieved through a working methodology of collaborative rational inquiry, undertaken in a spirit of curiosity and experimentation.

In the twenty years of its existence, Heatherwick Studio has worked in many countries, with a wide range of commissioners and in a variety of regulatory environments. Through this experience, the studio has acquired a high level of expertise in the design and realisation of unusual projects, with a particular focus on the large scale.

The studio’s work includes a number of nationally significant projects for the UK, including the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the New Bus for London.

Thomas is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects; a Senior Research Fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum; and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of Art, University of Dundee, University of Brighton, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Manchester.

He has won the Prince Philip Designers Prize, and, in 2004, was the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry. In 2010, Thomas was awarded the RIBA’s Lubetkin Prize and the London Design Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to design.

In 2013 Thomas was awarded a CBE for his services to the design industry.

 

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Published on: July 31, 2012
Cite: "The Olimpics Cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick [II]" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/olimpics-cauldron-thomas-heatherwick-ii> ISSN 1139-6415
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