A person whose achievements supersede the expected, as well as the thought-possible, is often referred to as a visionary; one who can envision the future. Well, we hope to isolate an obvious contradiction in terms underlying “a visionary”, in the example of Thomas Heatherwick. You see, there is nothing more incorrect than believing an architect, a designer, a sculptor and an engineer thinks primarily about the future. What work could be produced with contemplated materials and imaginable techniques? Fact of the matter is, a visionary is perhaps a person more firmly rooted in the present than any other. So, how exactly do these “visionaries” come by such designation? By re-inventing the present. Done simply by thinking more about “what can be done”, instead of “what is done”.

As an illustration of such a concept we quote Mr. Heatherwick: “I’d like to work on the world’s best car-park”.

B of the Bang, 56m-high sculpture, once outside the City of Manchester Stadium

Bleigiessen, Wellcome Trust, London

The Rolling Bridge, Paddington Basin, London

East Beach Cafe, Littlehampton

Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, London

Studios Complex at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University

Spinning chairs

20 metre high Seed Cathedral at Shanghai Expo 2010 [exterior]

20 metre high Seed Cathedral at Shanghai Expo 2010 [interior]

20 metre high Seed Cathedral at Shanghai Expo 2010 [interior; close-up]

Thomas in his spinning chair

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