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SHANGHAI EXPO 2010. International Pavilion.


The Shanghai Expo has ended officially (though unofficially continue operating for another month), leaving behind 70 of Osaka and becoming the Expo most popular in history with more than 73 million workers (half of which, I suspect, attended the event the same weekend ... I had never seen so many people together!). In the previous game
review some of the most important aspects of its approach city, and I would like to dedicate this post the architecture of the international pavilions. This Expo has been probably the most publicized of all World's Fairs, and many media and blogs have devoted several posts to describe some of the most popular pavilions.

JAPAN: Japan Pavilion again choose an organic form, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between technology and nature, as it did in Aichi , but this time commitment to finish futuristic reminiscent to the lining of many stations or pachinko parlors (I wonder if the color will have been inspired Hello Kitty ). This large capsule presents sharp protrusions and large holes that allow entry of light, natural air circulation and even water storage. The entrance to this building takes 4 hours, but gives a good idea of \u200b\u200bthe traditional architecture and technological advancement of this country.

However, there were five things that caught my attention during the visit, and protruding from the comparison with the previous Exposition in Aichi, Japan :

1) The huge investment in design, individual work and effort put each flag, which visibly exceeded that seen in the previous Expo in Aichi. Not only there were more exhibitors, but also more flags and more flags and investment area and beyond tastes and styles, recognize the interest that each country put on their behalf, despite being still in the midst of an international crisis.

The flag of Saudi Arabia is like a flying saucer supported by a metal columns. Inside is living a fantasy and that visitors do not walk, but move through automatic ticket crossing the space as a bridge, surrounded by a huge hemispherical screen that surrounds them, giving the impression of floating in a fantasy world. Impressive, as is its cost, $ 200 million. In contrast, Iraq, a country geographically close but overwhelmed by the misery of war, make the effort to be present with a small and modest front row Babylonian, inside which highlights the role of Aladdin, whose adventures were acclimated in Baghdad in the "Thousand and One Nights." The most striking (or perhaps not) was found to Aladdin in the Disney representation in the Iraqi flag.

2) The volume and formal chaos skyline level, because unlike the Japanese version they were limitations on the size, proportion and form of flags, in each China's version was free to do what he wanted, resulting in the rule of the individual over the collective.

volumetric Diversity: flags of Germany, and Luxembourg bet on angular forms and deconstructive and somewhat aggressive. The German flag twists and establishing a dialogue develops between full and empty, similar to the Canadian proposal to be discussed later, although for Germany the metal finish gives it an industrial feel. The Germans embraced the theme of "balancity", ie the balance in the city, emphasizing the variety and integration of their cities. Both Luxembourg (with its theme of forest and strength) and the Swiss Pavilion (with its roof garden) included vegetation in their proposals, trying to convey an ecological message to visitors.

The African pavilion, Egyptian and Argentina, among others, bet by a more sober, with large boxes that were made to the façade treatment and in which themes developed more freely. I am delighted that the Egyptians have chosen a more abstract continent to expose their beautiful historic treasures, instead of dressing up their flag with a look of the pharaohs. The African pavilion repeated basically the same concept as in Aichi, ie give it a fair market in which the various countries exposed freely in small stands under a large roof. The Argentine opted for a centralized composition, a floor lit with a kind of allegory floral hanging from the ceiling.

3) The perceptual richness, in terms of variety of textures, colors and materials that gave the exhibition, which is a consequence of the above.

SOUTH KOREA: Probably one of the most interesting pavilions of the Expo, the proposed Mass Studies denotes a masterful use of texture, and space symbol . Using the concept of convergence as a symbol of Korea (the peninsula has historically been a cultural bridge between mainland China and the Japanese island), and using icons Han-geul, the alphabet Korean, the flag is based on a combination of two concepts: the sign as a generator of space and space as defining signs.

POLAND: Also exploiting the play of textures and light, inspired by traditional crafts, the Polish pavilion focuses on the theme of humanity, creativity and city. Reflecting the traditional cut-paper pieces, the Polish flag displayed outside a rich filigree in the inner journey is multiplied in endless perforated planes, dramatically emphasized with artificial lighting. I recommend interesting to see the animation on the history of Poland . How many wars!

MEXICO: also used the theme of light, color and texture through a series of bright umbrellas arranged on a large sloping green platform, representative of kites or comets. He was the only flag that appeared half buried. Inside, one room contained a set of masks, to close and put his face on them, it was possible to see images of Mexico. In the audience was also offered a colorful video institutional, with the dramatic photograph of Willy Sousa.

SWEDEN: Another type of plot provides the Swedish flag, superimposed grids rotated in different directions and make up the facade of the four volumes that make up the building. In fact, seen from above, the flag represents the Swedish flag. Each of these sections are joined at the intersection, symbolizing the union between the natural and rural areas. The overlap of frames ensures lighting effects both within and a vivid night lighting from the outside.

SPAIN: The proposed study Miralles exploits the idea of \u200b\u200btexture in an array of 8000 organic mats, made by craftsmen from Shanghai, plots to a metal frame, wicker using a common activity in Spain and China. Tonal diversity and uniqueness in the design of each cane is melted to create a rough skin, wavy and light. Within the sample runs in three areas, in which are exhibited artistic, dance, music and video, movies and a giant English notables hyper-realistic sculpture of a baby.

4) Another aspect to take into account was the subject . Some topics elegidao were striking: from Aladdin in Iraq and Lionel Messi in Argentina, to the origin of civilization in Turkey and some piglets to "save the environment" ( save means both save and save). Some pavilions hit me with the clarity of his themes and the forcefulness of their expression.

Photo courtesy of dbmboise

BRITAIN: If While Argentina had the flag most memorable of the Paris Expo of 1889 (designed by Albert Ballu), Barcelona 1929 Germany (Mies Van de Rohe), Finland in New York 1939 (Alvar Aalto), Sevilla 1982 Japan (Tadao Ando), 1998 Lisbon Portugal (Alvaro Siza) and Spain in 2005 Aichi (FOA), I think the British flag (Heatherwick Studio) is the most iconic Shanghai 2010. The idea is quite unique, turn the building into a cathedral of the seeds. We did not find any reference here to the rich culture and British history, or the queen or the Stonehenge. Only the force of the idea of \u200b\u200b Seed Project, an idea to collect and store thousands of seeds in order to protect them from extinction. Miles of fiber rods brightness of 2 cm square section, give the flag the appearance of a spore, floating in the middle of the topography of the plaza in front of the building. But the most daunting experience given to enter the nucleus of the cathedral, as it can be a seed at the end of each rod, and the metaphor is complete.

LATVIA: Assumes the issue of wind power as the idea their flag. The wind, which in this Baltic country often becomes a storm, an important part of their history and culture. The facade is composed of plastic sheeting 100.000 colors that play with the wind. Inside, in addition to showing applications of wind technology wind, stands a wind tunnel, in which a pair of acrobats perform a juggling act .

5) Finally, a group of pavilions me interested in his movement and travel , accompanied by changes of scale, views, sequences, and surprises.

CHILE: The Chilean flag was not only one of the best made in Latin America but throughout the Expo. The elegance and quality of materials, neatness and expertise in the woodworking and organization of the sample through an exciting journey was remarkable in its design components. Its facade combining glass gently undulating green roof with wooden blocks. The interior, also worked in the warm tones of wood, contains five spaces concatenated explaining the problems of the city and alternative ideas for their solution. Two striking elements in Hall are a kind of egg made of wood and is almost floating in the center of the building and a plaza at the end of the course.

IRELAND: The Irish flag out for the cleaning of his party, a series of prisms arranged on a mound of grass around a central square plaza. The elegant and minimalist clean lines contrast with the formal and chromatic stridency of its neighbors. Inside, the movement is the main character and weaves together topics ranging from culture, landscape, interior design, housing developments and aspects of everyday life (including U2, of course).

DENMARK: The famous statue of the Little Mermaid is the center of the composition of this flag, consisting of two spiral ramps that weave up and down to the terrace. In its wake, the circulations are accompanied by a banking side from time to time create special effects like loop in which the child sits. But the ramps also contain an important message: Copenhagen is a city that promotes cycling as a transport sustainable and hence, the circulation also hosting a bike path. At the bottom in the photo, you see the huge bowl of the flag of Finland.

CANADA: The Canadian flag angular, covered in strips of wood, desenvuenve around an open plaza with sculptures, which contains a green wall. Inside, the route leads down a ramp to a bright and colorful, where users can interact with multimedia, sound and water. The motto "City Living: inclusive, sustainable and creative" exposes various aspects of Canadian society, which is open to multicultutalidad.

Shanghai Expo 2010 has closed with great success, showing unprecedented enthusiasm by both exhibitors and attendees, in the midst of a particularly difficult time. All in all, pleased to see that architecture has been featured as it has in many of the Universal Exhibition. Beyond the inevitable criticism or praise on one another style, Expo 2010 has shown the best efforts of many countries and has contributed to the debate about our urban problems and concrete alternatives as trying to solve.

PERU: small Peruvian flag does not appear in the summaries of architecture at Expo postcards or souvenir shops. The sober and conservative proposal by architect Frederick Cooper of anteroom includes a space frame formed by a reed that resembles the architecture of the Peruvian coast and the pre-Hispanic textiles. Inside, it suddenly appears dark, a ramp leads to a structure resembling a huaca , climbing up to see a multimedia presentation on the historical and cultural wealth of the country and its economic growth. The tour continues below the huaca, showing elements of fashion design and ceramics.
Despite some criticism, the Peruvian module has been awarded the third place between the pavilions of the Expo small. Although maybe I had something more cutting edge, I think this is the best individual contribution Peruvian Expos in recent decades. What nobody disputes is that the restaurant food was great.

For my part, I hope it was of interest or use this cycle on the Universal Exhibition through My Moleskine architectural history, which will include concise endpoint the next post.

SEE ALSO
- UNIVERSAL EXHIBITIONS

• Paris Universal Exposition, 1889
• Expo Barcelona 1929. German flag. (Mies van der Rohe)
• Ibero-American Exhibition of Seville, Spain 1929.
• Expo 1970 Osaka, Japan. Kenzo Tange and others
  
• Expo 1982, Seville, Spain. Alamillo Bridge (Santiago Calatrava).
• Expo 1998, Pavilion Lisbon Portugal (Alvaro Siza)
• Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. Urban Issues (2005)
  
• Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. International Pavilions (2005)
  
• Expo 2010, Shanghai, China. Urban areas.

Together with the architect and Miss Sandra Carrasco staff member of the Peruvian flag. Thank you very much to the director of the flag, Shirley Uchiyama and architect Manuel Fujii for their great support.