Courtesy Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners' design for the United Arab Emirates pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo

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"Drawing inspiration from the form of a sand dune," the firm writes on its Web site, "the pavilion is a reference to this symbolic feature of the desert landscape shared by each of the seven emirates."

Some critics and commentators, however, are noticing a distinct likeness to something very different: female genitalia. Writes one commenter on the blog Designboom: "It's just a matter of time until images of this new #@$%-building are going to be CENSORED here in the UAE."

According to Foster + Partners, "Like a sand dune, the pavilion appears rough and textured on the side that bears the full force of the wind and smooth on the other side. The northern elevation is more porous to admit natural light, while the southern elevation has a solid facade, to minimize solar gain. A stainless steel skin, treated to appear golden, encloses the jewel-like shell."

"The peak rises to 20 meters in height and it is entered via a glazed lip at the pavilion’s base. Light penetrates the building’s business center and VIP area through glazed vertical strips, which illuminate the pavilion from within by night."

The pavilion includes about 33,000 square feet of exhibition space and has capacity for 450 visitors. It is intended to highlight the UAE's "progressive stance on sustainability."