Shanghai World Expo Pavilions showcase diversity
By admin on 2014-12-29

With 69 days to go until the Shanghai World Expo opens its doors on May 1, preparations for the large-scale event are making headlines both at home and abroad, especially as a vast variety of national pavilions begin to open their doors for a sneak peak at what's to follow.

A total of 70 million people are expected to attend Expo that will cover 5.28 square kilometers, among which more than 700 square kilometers are being utilized by pavilions, constructed by international participants and provinces within China, to present the very best that their country or region has to offer.

The 42 international pavilions showcase leading architecture from across the world, each displaying unique styles and designs from the countries they represent. Up until now, construction work of about 80 percent of the pavilions has finished.

Russia

Russia has created a fairyland with its pavilion, showcasing a colorful and at-tractive image as seen through the eyes of children.

With the theme New Russia: City and Citizen, the pavilion features 12 towers, which are 20 meters tall and colored in traditional white, red and gold.

The structures represent ancient Ural mountain villages, in both shape and organization, dating back 3,000 years ago, with innovative touches of irregular shapes demonstrating the diversity of Russia's ancient and modern cities.

Inside the three-story main building is a display of classic scenes from the fairytale The Adventures of Dunno and His Friends, written by Russian children's author Niko-lay Nosov. Through the protagonist Dunno, the cultural and technological development of Russia is revealed.

The adventures feature three fictional cities including the City of Flowers, the City of Sun and the City of Moon, which constitute the three main exhibition areas. The walls of the pavilion have been painted in vivid and diverse colors and visitors can enter mushroom-shape houses as if in a fairytale.

The exhibition hall of the pavilion will showcase environmentally-friendly technology, new clean energy and space exploration, including Yury Gagarin's 1961 pioneering flight that made him the first man in space.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is expected to visit the pavilion on September 28 to meet with visitors.

Italy

The Italian pavilion, themed City of Man, is made up of 20 functional modules that can be assembled freely and represent Italy's 20 regions. The structure was inspired by the traditional game of pick-up sticks, known as "Shanghai" in Italy, in which children drop a group of sticks on the ground and try to remove one stick at a time without disturbing the others.

The pavilion covers an area of 7,800 square meters and stands 20 meters high. Its interior is divided into irregular sections of different dimensions, linked by a steel bridge where the connecting galleries are visible.

The different sections of the building create geometrical and visual variety symbolizing the color, rich traditions and regional customs of Italian culture.

Considered by many as the birthplace of the Renaissance and known as a dynamic country of fashion and cutting-edge technology, the Italian pavilion will showcase an extensive collection of classic art and designer luxury goods.

The latest model Ferrari and Ducati will debut at the pavilion and visitors will be able to enjoy fashion shows featuring Armani, Prada and Versace. Classic masterpieces by Leonardo Da Vinci and Raffaello Sanzio will also be on display.

The Italian pavilion will hold several concerts to highlight the country's music achievements including a performance by internationally-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli.

USA

Built with two outstretched wings symbolizing the US' national emblem of an Eagle and affectionately dubbed the "Eagle's Nest" by USA pavilion representative Jose Villarreal, to pay homage to the Bird's Nest in Beijing and to be consistent with its theme of Rising to Challenges, with an urban garden at its core, the USA pavilion cost $61 million.

The pavilion will provide a picture of what US cities might look like in the year 2030. A virtual tour guide will help visitors step into a 4D projected world, to catch a glimpse of new technology, clean-energy cars and buildings, green parks and urban farms powered by sustainable energy.

Another highlight will be a 20-meter-high cylinder with media presentations on five massive screens, telling the story of a girl who transforms her city into an environmentally-friendly place to live.

The roof garden at the center of the pavilion was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama, who created a similar garden at the White House, according to Villarreal.

Poland

With People Create Cities as its theme, the innovative Polish pavilion combines folk art and contemporary architectural décor. The traditional craft of cutting an intricate pattern in paper is the inspiration of the pavilion's design, a 3,000-square-meter wooden pavilion carved as a traditional paper cut.

During the day time, sunshine will permeate through the wood-carved exterior, with varying light and shade highlighting different interior spaces.

In the evening, the pavilion will utilize its carved design to shine from the inside out, with cut-out folk figures appearing to dance on the walls.

"The pavilion design evokes ancient artistry, abstract design and futuristic thinking," explained Slawomir Majman, commissioner-general of the Poland pavilion.

In order to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Poland musician Frederic Chopin, the Polish pavilion will feature exhibitions of his work and piano concerts that are scheduled to run from May 22 throughout Expo.

Britain

The British pavilion, fondly dubbed the "Dandelion" due to its exterior appearance, is a six-story animated structure that looks like a dandelion with thousands of "seeds" that hover without visible support above the public square. All of the wisp-like seeds, which catch and swing in the breeze, are tipped with tiny colored lights that can project a variety of images.

The centerpiece of the pavilion is the Seed Cathedral, a cube-like structure more than 20 meters high. Extending from inside the structure are more than 60,000 slim transparent acrylic rods, each of which is 7.5 meters long, with several seeds near each root.

During the day each of these rods will act like fiber optic filaments, drawing on daylight in order to illuminate the interior; at night, light sources at the interior end of each rod will allow the whole structure to glow from the outside.

Inside the pavilion, an enormous digital screen will show an interesting range of content. The outside area of the pavilion will be an exhibition space and auditorium with a cafe and shops surrounded by two strips of grass.

The pavilion has been designed to be as ecologically friendly as possible and the designers have tried to make all aspects recyclable and carbon-neutral, according to Thomas Heatherwick, the pavilion's chief designer.

Japan

Affectionately dubbed "Purple Silkworm Island" by Shanghai residents, the Japanese pavilion occupies 6,000 square meters and reaches a height of 24 meters .

With a facade that resembles Beijing's Water Cube, the pavilion is of semicircular structure, covered by a purple membrane.

With the help of advanced ecological technology, the breathing architectural structures will make efficient use of natural resources during its operation, reflecting Japan's theme of Harmony of the Hearts, Harmony of the Skills, showcasing how environmentally-friendly technology can better our everyday lives.

Sophisticated energy-saving technology has been used throughout the pavilion and intelligent robots will be on hand to mingle with visitors for Expo's duration.

France

The final design of the French pavilion, called The Sensual City, was selected from 49 submissions and is a very simple building with a big French-style garden inside it. The structure is surrounded by water and it looks as if it is floating when viewed from far away.

Covering 6,000 square meters, the French pavilion is unique in terms of both its form and the technologies used in construction and operation. It will also present France's achievements in sustainable urban development, according a statement on the pavilion's official website.

The French pavilion has utilized the most advanced building materials and environmental protection technology including solar panels on its roof. It has been designed to stand as a shining example of energy efficiency and recycling techniques.

Various French art styles, from modern art works like Homage to Monet by French-Chinese painter Zao Wou-Ki to classic works by artists from the 19th-century, such as Jean-Francois Millet and Vincent Van Gogh, will be displayed inside, according to Franck Serrano, president of the pavilion.

Spain

The Spanish pavilion, covering 7,000 square meters, is one of the biggest pavilions in Expo. Its design has been inspired by wicker baskets and the pavilion's exterior is covered with Spanish-style woven wicker, reflecting the different handicrafts from various regions of Spain. The physical structure is mainly made of steel and supplemented by sustainable materials like bamboo and semi-transparent paper.

Lead architect Benedetta Tagliabue explained that adopting wicker, a material deeply rooted in both Spanish and Chinese cultures, will make both countries' visitors feel closer and welcomed. The space has been divided into basket-like shapes, to enable free-flowing movement throughout the interconnected pavilion.

"Our objective is to let visitors know that Spain is a country where tradition and modernity coexist in all senses," commented Carlos Blasco, the Ambassador of Spain in China.

During Expo, an intensive series of themed events will take place inside the pavilion, including photo exhibitions and flamenco concerts.

Three film directors; Bigas Luna, Basilio Martín Patino and Isabel Coixet, are in charge of the exhibition projects, whose presentation and content remain strictly confidential. Luna hinted to the media that exhibitions will highlight how Spain moved from a rural to urban civilization and how Spain today is creating a harmonious city for generations to follow.

Duration:

May 1 - October 31, 2010

Opening Hours:

9:00 - 24:00 for Expo Site

9:30 - 22:30 for pavilions

Tickets:

The benchmark price for Shanghai 2010 Expo tickets is 160 yuan ($23.42) with pre-sale discount tickets and three and seven day passes available.

Transportation:

The Shanghai Expo Site is located on both sides of the Huangpu River.

Cross-river visitors can take metro lines, cross-river buses and ferries to the destinations.