Shanghai World Expo 2010 - The Chile Pavilion
As usual I am saving the best for last. This shall be my last post on the Shanghai World Expo 2010 - and its on the pavilion that impressed me the most.
To me the Chile Pavilion is the most architectural among all the pavilions I managed to visit. It really was designed as a building rather then a temporary expo structure - with a level of care and attention to detail which is lacking in many of the other pavilions. From the outside, it looked quite similar to the Australian Pavilion - with its curvy shape and clad in glass walls and core-ten steel. The curving form is quite elegant, and the glass and steel panels lining most of the elevations provide a nice textural and colour contrast.
The entrance lobby - beautiful contrast of materials - rusted steel, glass and untreated wood.
As you enter the Pavilion, you are faced with a massive wall made up of solid blocks of wood. This wall leads into the first exhibition hall which has messages running on LED strips. Moving further, you see the centre of the Pavilion which is a large oval shell made up entirely of wood again. This was really well-finished and beautiful - an impressive centre piece.
Inside the "Wooden Egg" - LCD panels with Chileans reaching out to touch the visitors.
I was admiring the beauty of the architecture more then the actual exhibits, and after passing through the oval shell you end up in a big hall which showcase all the best Chinean products which include of course- wine.
The "Wooden Egg".
At the main hall you can see the oval even better, and even look under the structure which is lined also in wood and carved out to form a curvilinear landscape which serve as a base for the design. Impressive. I managed to find out the name of the designer - and it was Juan Sabbagh of Sabbagh Arquitectos. I did some googling and found out that it is actually one of the leading architectural practices in Chile, a husband and wife team with their children working in the same office !
To me the Chile Pavilion is the most architectural among all the pavilions I managed to visit. It really was designed as a building rather then a temporary expo structure - with a level of care and attention to detail which is lacking in many of the other pavilions. From the outside, it looked quite similar to the Australian Pavilion - with its curvy shape and clad in glass walls and core-ten steel. The curving form is quite elegant, and the glass and steel panels lining most of the elevations provide a nice textural and colour contrast.
The entrance lobby - beautiful contrast of materials - rusted steel, glass and untreated wood.
As you enter the Pavilion, you are faced with a massive wall made up of solid blocks of wood. This wall leads into the first exhibition hall which has messages running on LED strips. Moving further, you see the centre of the Pavilion which is a large oval shell made up entirely of wood again. This was really well-finished and beautiful - an impressive centre piece.
Inside the "Wooden Egg" - LCD panels with Chileans reaching out to touch the visitors.
I was admiring the beauty of the architecture more then the actual exhibits, and after passing through the oval shell you end up in a big hall which showcase all the best Chinean products which include of course- wine.
The "Wooden Egg".
At the main hall you can see the oval even better, and even look under the structure which is lined also in wood and carved out to form a curvilinear landscape which serve as a base for the design. Impressive. I managed to find out the name of the designer - and it was Juan Sabbagh of Sabbagh Arquitectos. I did some googling and found out that it is actually one of the leading architectural practices in Chile, a husband and wife team with their children working in the same office !
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