Here are some photos of a scale model of the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron designed by Thomas Heatherwick, which has now been added to the ongoing exhibition of his work at the V&A museum, plus drawings from the designer.
Unveiled as the climax of the opening ceremony on Friday, the cauldron comprises 204 copper petals that were carried into the stadium by competing teams and assembled on radiating poles, before bring raised in concentric waves to meet as one flame. After the games the cauldron will be dismantled and each competing country will take home one of the petals. Read more about the design in our earlier story.
“Nothing has been harder than designing for the Olympics," says Heatherwick, who sent us the drawings below. "It is the most public moment one can ever be involved in. I am humbled and excited, and above all very proud to have played a part in this significant moment for Great Britain.”
A prototype of one of the petals, made of copper, aluminium and steel, is also included in the Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary exhibition, which continues until 30 September.
The Cauldron was the star of the show on Friday night but has since been criticised for its position inside the stadium, hidden from most of the Olympic Park, and had to be extinguished on Sunday night so it could be moved aside for this week's sport.
Watch Heatherwick talk more about the commission in our movie filmed at the opening of the exhibition here or below.
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Watching its petals majestically rise and form one flame was the highlight of the opening ceremony.
Ah, there was me thinking we might see some sketches – CAD drawings are so lifeless for what was such a stirring and ostensibly hand-crafted design.
Fantastic vision – too bad they put it on a parking space, in a corner. They should instead put it high up where everyone could see it from everywhere! What is Olympic without a flame – over.