The largest, most significant event that Monaco will be involved in this year is undoubtedly the World Expo 2020 Dubai, set to take place in 10 months-time. To mark the countdown, Monaco Life is taking a closer look at one of the world’s oldest and largest international events and the top 10 pavilion designs.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
World Expos are almost incomprehensible in their size, scale, duration and visitor numbers. They have served as a platform for the unveiling of the world’s greatest monuments and achievements for the past 168 years, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seattle Space Needle, the typewriter, the television, and even Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
Taking place every five years and lasting six months, World Expos are platforms for progress, technology and education, serving as a bridge between governments, companies, international organisations and citizens.
Founded in 1928, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the intergovernmental organisation that regulates and oversees World Expos, preserving the core values of education, innovation and cooperation on behalf of its 170 member states.
The World Expo 2020 Dubai site will equal the size of Monaco itself – approximately two square kilometres. Outside this gated area will be a further 2.4 square kilometre space for amenities and facilities.
Within the Expo gated area, there will be three Thematic Pavilions and 192 individual Country Pavilions that will showcase each country’s unique architecture, culture and exhibits.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. Here are our Top 10 pavilion designs:
Saudi Arabia
The pavilion, resembling a huge window opening up from the ground and soaring into the sky, will offer visitors an immersive journey showcasing Saudi Arabia’s transformation.
Dubai
Designed in the shape of a falcon in flight, the UAE Pavilion will tell the history of the nation as a connected global hub, and the vision of its leaders to create a peaceful and progressive society with ambitious plans for the future.
Netherlands
Brimming with sustainable solutions, the Netherlands Pavilion will harvest water, energy and food through innovations including a cone-shaped vertical farm. Possessing a naturally controlled climate, the structure will be built using locally sourced materials that will be recycled after the Expo, minimising its ecological footprint.
Monaco
Inspired by the ‘Rock of Monaco’, this gem-like, polygonal pavilion will take visitors on a multi-sensory journey through mirrored exhibition spaces, replicating the sights and smells of the French Riviera. The structure features two main exhibition areas. The ‘Garden of Opportunities’ includes a variety of interactive experiences that will bring to life Monaco’s warm, sunny climate. Visitors will then enter the ‘Kaleidoscope’, which will showcase the country’s art, culture, innovation, history, gastronomy and more.
Latvia
The design of this pavilion means it unfolds as one open surface, creating a distinct climate inside its own limits. It will be a space that is continuous, unobstructed and accessible for all.
France
Titled ‘Light, Lights’, the pavilion’s theme explores light as an enabler of progress, a vehicle for connections and a source of heat and creativity. It seeks to embody the Age of Enlightenment, the 18th century movement spearheaded by French intellectuals that emphasised concepts such as knowledge exchange and tolerance.
Read more:
Monaco’s Philharmonic to provide Dubai Expo music
Building starts on Monaco Pavilion in Dubai
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