Top 6 Stunning Green Pavilions at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo

We've been eagerly following the incredible green buildings being constructed for the <a href="../tag/shanghai-world-expo" target="_blank">2010 Shanghai World Expo</a>, and we can't wait for the opening of the festival this Saturday! From supermassive <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">solar sun valleys</a> to the UK's stunning <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">seed cathedral</a> to <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/">rainwater-harvesting roofs</a> of all shapes and sizes, we couldn't be more pleased by the green building elements on display -- read on for our six favorite pavilions from the 2010 World Expo!

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/09/the-shanghai-corporate-pavilion-made-of-recycled-cd-cases-nears-completion/" target="_blank">Shanghai Corporate Pavilion</a></h3> Constructed from recycled plastic CD jewel cases, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/09/the-shanghai-corporate-pavilion-made-of-recycled-cd-cases-nears-completion/" target="_blank">Shanghai Corporate Pavilion</a> is made up of thousands of polycarbonate tubes lit up with LED lights. Designed by Atelier Feichang Jianzhu, the Pavilion also features rainwater harvesting, a solar hot water heating system, and its lighting scheme can be changed on a whim. </br> <a href="http://www.fcjz.com/">+ FCJZ</a> <br> photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9773/shanghai-corporate-pavilion-at-expo-2010.html">designboom.com</a>

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">UK Pavilion</a></h3> The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/">Seed Cathedral</a> is a spectacular pavilion designed by Heatherwick Studio in collaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank. The structure's bristling facade is composed of 60,000 acrylic rods filled with seeds from around the world -- these rods act as fiber optic sunlight transport systems that draw light into the structure during the day. At night, the inside lights up and a soft glow transmits through the rods to the exterior. </br> <a href="http://www.ukshanghaiexpo.com/">+ UK Pavilion</a> </br> <a href="http://www.heatherwick.com/">+ Heatherwick Studio</a> </br> photo credit: <a>UK Pavlion</a>

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">Sun Valleys</a></h3> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/sun-valleys-to-light-up-the-night-and-day-at-2010-world-expo/">Sun Valleys</a> runs along the main Expo Boulevard and serves as a central meeting location for the Expo. The 1 km walkway features six inverted cones designed to collect rainwater, channel light down into the lower levels, and provide shade for the breezeway underneath. </br> <a href="http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20090514/000002.htm">+ Sun Valleys for Shanghai World Expo</a> </br> photo credit: <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/25/c_13266625_2.htm">Xinhuanet</a>

<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/" target="_blank">Canada Pavilion</a></h3> Designed in part by Cirque du Soleil, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/cirque-du-soleil-lends-hand-to-design-canada-pavilion-for-shanghai-expo/" target="_blank">Canada Pavilion</a> will feature live shows by the world-famous performance troupe. The building's exterior features a wood-clad facade designed to harvest rainwater, and vegetation covers the walls inside the courtyard, which should help keep the temperature moderate. </br> <a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/en/special/shanghai2010/intro/intro">+ Cirque du Soleil and the Canada Pavilion</a> </br> photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9458/canada-pavilion-at-shanghai-expo-2010.html">designboom</a>

<h3><a>The China Pavilion</a></h3> The <a>The China Pavilion</a>, also known as the Oriental Crown, is one of 5 buildings that will remain at the expo site permanently -- it will be converted into a history museum at the end of the Expo. Painted the same red as the Forbidden City, the Oriental Crown also harvests rainwater features passive solar design. </br> <a href="http://en.scut.edu.cn/detail.jsp?id=1450">+ Designed by He Jingtang</a> </br> photo credit: <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/25/c_13266856_4.htm">Xinhuanet</a>

<h3><a>Moanco Pavilion</a></h3> Wrapped in a illuminated wave of LED lights, the <a>Moanco Pavilion</a> is powered by solar panels. Inspired by the waters of the Mediterranean, the shimmering pavilion is like “a rock surrounded by the dancing light of a perfect sea”. </br> <a href="http://www.naco.net/">+ Naço Architectures</a> </br> photo credit: <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9209/naco-architectures-monaco-pavilion.html">designboom</a>