In the first week, I search some information about the exhibition. I have understood the process of the exhibition and the preparation for exhibition.
I have an advantage for research existing exhibition. The World Exhibition or Exposition (Expo) held in China last year, and I have been went to Shanghai and visited some Pavilions during last summer. The theme of Expo 2010 is "Better City, Better Life," representing the common wish of the whole humankind for a better living in future urban environments.
How magical these pavilions are. Of course we should not design the exhibition as these, but they can provide various types of theme and different cultures that may be can inspire us!
Next, I take some example.
1. China Pavilion
Theme: Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development
Highlights: Traditional Dougong Style
The Experience Trip
Excursion trains will give visitors an appreciation of the great wisdom and achievements in China's urban development from ancient to modern times.
Focus on low-carbon future
Chinese people will tackle future challenges brought by urbanization in a sustainable way which takes low-carbon technologies as its core.
1. United Kingdom Pavilion
1) Theme: Building on the Past, Shaping Our Future
2) Highlights: Seed Cathedral, Wrapping Paper
3) Pavilion Area: Around 6,000 Square Meters
4) Pavilion Features
The first World Expo came about in the United Kingdom and was then known as the Great Exhibition, held in the Crystal Palace at Hyde Park. This majestic metal-and-glass edifice was not only home to the extravaganza display of products from all over the world, but was also the iconic symbol of the world fair, being considered one of the most beautiful structures in the world until a fire destroyed it half a century ago. Now, the United Kingdom has brought to Expo visitors a new version of the Crystal Palace – a dazzling cube formed by more than 60,000 slim and transparent acrylic rods containing seeds of different plants that were collected in a bio-diversity project.
5) Pavilion Display
Themed "Building on the Past, Shaping our future", the 6000-square-meter UK pavilion is also known as the "Seed Cathedral" and the area around it is designed like a wrapping paper, making it seem as if the wrappers have fallen open to reveal a sparkling jewel of life. Visitors can relax around the open space or enter the "Seed Cathedral" to admire the seeds in the spines, marveling how such tiny seeds can produce wonders of nature and life. The UK pavilion hopes to raise awareness for the Millennium Seed Bank Project, an international conservation project launched by the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2000.
6) Pavilion Highlights
Highlight 1: Green Cities
Visitors will travel through four UK's capital cities from west to east - Belfast, Cardiff, London and Edinburgh. Large "green maps" of the cities are on display. The best way to show how green British cities really are is to "erase" all the buildings and streets, leaving only the green spaces.
Highlight 2: Seed Cathedral
Visitors will be invited to watch, touch and recognize seeds of different plants as the core exhibition of the UK Pavilion. They will be surrounded by the seeds in a 20-meter-high hollow cube-like structure with the seeds embedded in the walls and ceilings. The "Seed Cathedral" is itself an object formed from 60,000-plus transparent acrylic rods containing seeds. The seeds demonstrate the concept of sustainability, the diversity of nature and the potential of life. During the daytime, each of these 7.5-meter-long rods will act like fibre optic filaments, drawing on daylight to illuminate the interior. At night, light sources embedded in each rod will allow the whole structure to glow.
Highlight 3: Living City
In the "Living City," visitors will find a showcase for a rich variety of plants, a mix of living plants and imaginary future plants. They are encouraged to look closely to see which are real and which are modeled. These specific stories allow them to appreciate how science has used nature in areas as diverse as medicine and construction, and how plants of the future could offer solutions to climate change and other global concerns.
Highlight 4: Olympic Corner
UK Pavilion offers a preview of the 2012 London Olympics by incorporating an "Olympic Corner" in its display. The area features a large "green map" of the 2.5-square-kilometer Olympic Park in Stratford in East London, which will be turned into the largest city park in Britain
Highlight 5: City Park
The "paper" area is as large as a standard football pitch and will be a public area for performances and for children to play football, just like a city park. The square will have performances every day including ballet, drama, orchestra and dance. Some UK football stars may be on hand to teach soccer skills to children.
2. Russia Pavilion
1) Theme: New Russia: City and Citizen
2) Pavilion Features
Nikolay Nosov, a famous Soviet writer of children's literature, once said that the best city in the world should be the favorite one among children. His flower city, a place in the "Adventures of DUNNO and His Friends," has attracted a great number of people. Following the conception of Nosov, the Russia Pavilion has been designed as an ideal city resembling cites in the fairyland, which will give people the impression of a children's paradise. It features 12 irregularly shaped towers in white, red and gold. A 15-meter-tall central building dubbed the "Civilization Cube" links the towers.
3) Pavilion Display
Taking cues from Nosov's "Adventures of DUNNO and His Friends," the main exhibition area of the Russia Pavilion consists of three parts: the City for Children, the City for Youth and the Big World, carrying themes of "the City of Flowers," "the City of Sun" and "the City of Moon" respectively. Before starting their journey, visitors are advised to envision themselves as DUNNO and his friends when travelling this fairy-tale palace.
4) Pavilion Highlights
Highlight 1: Unique Design
Unique Design With their irregular shapes, these 20-meter towers are located among the natural landscapes of a green lawn and water. Taking a close look, visitors will find that these towers form a circle that takes after the formation of a famous Russian dance. The roofs of the towers are decorated with hollow pictures in colors widely used for traditional Russian garments, symbolizing the integration of various ethnic groups in the country.
Highlight 2: Fairy-tale World
The City of Flowers features fairy-tale style images of children, showing a flair for colors and fantasies. The City of Sun is a miniature artificial space where the sun shines permanently, shedding light onto every window of the hall to create a translucent labyrinth with virtual displays. Here visitors can find displays of technological inventions by Russian youth. The City of Moon focuses on space exploration. It shows the history of human exploration into the space and glories of Russia's aerospace explorations.
Highlight 3: Giant Flowers and Trees
Giant strawberries, flowers and trees will feature in the pavilion to show a comfortable city as seen through children's eyes. Visitors will travel along the path as if in a fairy tale. Along the way, they will meet giant foods and plants. The path will move through sections highlighting progress in different areas of Russia's development.
1. Belgium
1) Theme: Movement and Interaction
2) Pavilion Display
"Brain Cell" structure is employed in the main body of the pavilion, which is also the design concept of the building. The inspiration of "Brain Cell" neuron comes from Belgium's rich achievements in science and art, and its status as one of the European Political Centers.
3) Pavilion Highlights
Highlight 1: Multiple Visual Effects
The change of light and color of "Brain Cell" naturally melts into Shanghai's night scenes.
Highlight 2: Diamond Showcase
During the period of Expo 2010, a top-level diamond exhibition will be held in the Belgium-EU Pavilion. On this occasion, diamond designers from all over the world, including more than ten Chinese designers, will bring their works for exhibit. Fashion models from both countries will also give performances to liven up the show.
Highlight 3: Chocolate Corner
Belgium-EU Pavilion will create a dreamy "chocolate plant" in which visitors can view the chocolate-making process, and even taste the chocolate from Belgium for free. Some chocolates will be made into figures of Shanghai's landmark buildings.
1. Spain Pavilion
1) Theme: From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children
2) Pavilion Display
The pavilion contains three exhibition halls which will take visitors through the time and space of the development of the cities in Spain with the theme of "From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children." The three displays are created by famous Spanish film makers from three decades
