Bella Italia meets Desert City. Milan will welcome the UAE pavilion for its upcoming Expo, and the first steps of the design project have just been revealed.
Conceived by the architecture firm Foster + Partners, the UAE pavilion’s interior is defined by a canyon-like space and undulating walls, and is said to be influenced by ancient planning principles of desert cities, as well as the sustainable Masdar City master-plan in Abu Dhabi. To further convey Emirati aesthetics, the textures of the walls are derived from a scan taken in the desert, while the construction materials used will represent the different shades of sand across the UAE.
But perhaps the most impressive feature of the UAE pavilion is its sustainability. The original installation in Milan will feature CO2 (carbon dioxide) absorbing materials and raindrop capture installations, next to photovoltaic and hot water panels—which, all in all, aim to achieve a minimum of 30% energy saving. Furthermore, the building is actually designed to be recycled and rebuilt in the UAE after the Expo.
“We are very proud to be chosen again to create the national pavilion for the UAE,’’ said Norman Foster, Head of Foster + Partners. ‘’Our challenge has been to design for two climates – to create a naturally cool, comfortable space for visitors in Milan, while considering the pavilion’s ultimate reconstruction in the Emirates, where there is a need to provide shade from the intense sun.’’
The pavilion is set to embody the 2015 Milan Expo theme of “feeding the planet,” and will therefore integrate dining options with Emirati cuisine, consisting of a ground level café, a restaurant on the first floor, and a roof terrace. The open public areas are designed to evoke the landscape of the UAE. Finally, the pavilion will also welcome a special exhibition, celebrating Dubai as the host city for the 2020 Expo.
The 2015 Milan Expo will take place from May 1st to October 31st and host a total of 141 participant countries.
www.en.expo2015.org
—Elisabeta Tudor
