The Rice Pavilion

Construction begins

By Jennifer Drury

Brighton Pavilion is to be rebuilt - out of 10 tons of rice. In a monumental attempt to raise awareness about worldwide use of food resources, an international artists' group are building an edible Pavilion in Brighton, using 10,000 kilos of vacuum-packed rice. Chris Biddlecombe, Guyan Porter and Emilia Telese, at the head of the UK based Edible Construction Company, in collaboration with Italian artist and designer Edoardo Malagigi, are creating the Rice Pavilion inside the award-winning Brighton Jubilee Library.  The project is a public art intervention taking place throughout August.

The five metre (16.4 ft) tall Rice Pavilion, complete with onion shaped domes, will be built over fourteen days with a team of volunteers, in full view of the public. The completed Pavilion will be on show for eight days inside the library, and then dismantled and distributed with the UK charity Feed the Children.

The Rice Pavilion is a means of addressing how we value food in society.  It is hoped that it will specifically highlight the importance of avoiding food waste. This is particularly significant as it is estimated that in the UK we throw away 40% of our annual food production.  The rice used here will provide one basic meal for approximately 100,000 children.

The Rice Pavilion at Jubilee Library, Jubilee Square
28th July to the 26th August

Construction 28th July - 10th August.

Completed Pavilion 11th August - 18th August

Deconstruction 20th - 24th August 2007.

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