Expo 2010 Shanghai China - India Pavillion

Okay, that is Sanchi above, but it was used as the inspiration for the atrocious design which  represents India at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

The pavilion is to act as different villages in, India. From these renderings I get a sense that JWT design allowed their intern to design the pavillion.

The archway / entry was inspired by Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, In Ahmedabad, India. An unthoughtful move to combine this element with a Buddhist Stupa. Was the designer told to look through an Indian Architecture book and create a combination of buildings that would make a sensible designer wake up in cold sweats? Leave combining elements to post modernists like Sir James Sterling.

The domed structure which is clad with photo voltaics so that they can bring this building into the 21st century, houses a club? Okay it is not a club but a media hall were transitions of Indian cities from ancient to the modern times is on display. I could definitely see this as a set for a Bollywood, "Item Number" (dance scene). Break out the ecstasy!

I would have turned back at this point but the pavilion houses Indian food and I am sure that the smell of kabobs was wafting in the air. Can I have a Kingfisher with that please? Yes the strong kind.

Maybe they were going for the most colorful pavilion award? Or lets see how many materials we can use so that it looks like we put all the elements in a blender? The concept is based on the theme “cities of harmony"... we will let you be the judge.

Common India!!! You have talented designers and are looking to make your mark on the world and this is what you come up with for the global stage? Why are you looking at the past when expos are about the future. Could you come up with a concept that breaks out of the local Mela theme where singing, dancing and food are the core? Progress please!

Here is a link to the Shanghai, Expo page on the India Pavilion. Enjoy! I can smell those fried Samosas from here.