Neuron Pod:  Will Alsop's intergalactic porcupine of knowledge

Based on a nerve cell, the architect ’s posthumous addition to London’s Blizard laboratory complex is so lovable, you almost want to give it a cuddleThrusting its bristly bottom out into the road, a curious spiny creature has landed in the backstreets of Whitechapel, London. Standing like an intergalactic porcupine, covered with long glowing quills that sway gently in the breeze, it is a startling thing to encounter in this unremarkable corner of hospital buildings and curry houses.This is the £2mNeuron Pod, one of the last posthumous works of architectWill Alsop, who proves that he is still eminently capable of making mischief from beyond the grave. The project marks the latest addition to Queen Mary University of London ’s campus, an informal science learning space for the armies of schoolchildren who benefit from the teaching hospital’s lively education programme. It is a classroom, but not as we know it.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Architecture Will Alsop Science London Research Art and design Culture Queen Mary, University of London Schools Neuroscience Biology Genetics Higher education UK news Source Type: news