Making of Thomas Heatherwick's London 2012 Olympic cauldron
Here's a movie showing the concept animations, construction and testing of the London 2012 Olympic cauldron by British designer Thomas Heatherwick. Above: footage by LOCOG/Heatherwick Studio. Edited by the V&A museum.
The movie by the V&A museum shows the forging of the 204 copper petals and the testing of the concentric mechanised stems that rise in simultaneously to bring the petals together and form the cauldron.
Above: 'Petal' prototype commissioned by LOCOG. Photograph by the V&A museum.
Dezeen filmed an interview with Heatherwick over a month before its unveiling on the top secret design at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
After its debut, Heatherwick was inundated with messages of support from people “moved by his spectacular creation”, the designer told the Independant.
The cauldron proved controversial during the games as it was hidden from most visitors to the Olympic Park and only visible to spectators attending events in the Olympic Stadium where it was kept.
Above: scale model of the Olympic cauldron. Photograph by the V&A museum.
A scale model and drawings of the cauldron are currently on display at the Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary exhibition at the V&A museum until 30 September 2012.
See all our stories about Thomas Heatherwick »
See all our stories about the London 2012 Olympics »