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UAE eyes top Shanghai Expo honour in 2010

A pavilion like no other is how Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC), described the proposed United Arab Emirates pavilion at the official launch of the country's participation at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai scheduled to open on May 1, 2010 in Shanghai.

  • WAM
  • Published: 23:31 November 29, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: A pavilion like no other is how Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC), described the proposed United Arab Emirates pavilion at the official launch of the country's participation at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai scheduled to open on May 1, 2010 in Shanghai.

Gobash said the proposed pavilion is inspired by the country's precipitous sand-dunes.

The building is a triumph of form and function, harmonising nature and architecture to create a fascinating structure that commands attention and reminds visitors of the Expo 2010 theme: "Better City, Better Life".

The event is expected to attract over 60 million visitors from around the world for six months.

Designed by Foster + Partners, one of the world's leading architects, the building will be the first truly recyclable Expo pavilion.

After the expo it will be dismantled and moved to a more permanent location, thus gaining maximum value from the extensive planning, design and construction that is involved in the participation.

The building's appeal lies not just in its unusual organic form but also in the reflective nature of its outer covering, helping to recreate the changing patterns and colours of the UAE's natural and urban environments. Diffused light penetrates the building during the day and spectacularly illuminates the pavilion by night, Gobash said.

Meanwhile, Salem Al Amiri, the Deputy Chairman of the National Media Council and Commissioner General of UAE Pavilion at Expo 2010, said that in keeping with the event theme, the building will demonstrate a number of innovative environmental strategies including the UAE's sustainable agenda programme.

Shaped by the wind, a natural dune appears rough on the side that bears the full force of the wind, and smooth on the side that collects the sand after it has been tipped over the ridge. The design seeks to replicate this, deflecting Shanghai winds and protecting the smooth, leeward side, added Al Amiri.

The curve of the dune responds to the arc of the sun and is orientated towards the north, with solid shell forms protecting the structure from the south and allowing indirect light to enter the habitable areas through a complex series of louvres.

The slopes rise to 20 metres in height to enclose the exhibition spaces within and arched entrances protected by canopies shelter visitors as they queue up to enter the building. The outer finish is rosy gold-coloured stainless steel designed to shimmer in changing light.

The UAE pavilion is located in the eastern section of the Expo site. The UAE won a gold medal for its pavilion at Expo 2008 and is hoping for similar success at Expo 2010.

The UAE won a gold medal for its pavilion at Expo 2008 and is hoping for similar success at Expo 2010.

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