The Spanish pavilion designed by Barcelonese studio Miralles Tagliabue (EMBT) will be one of the biggest pavilions during next year’s World EXPO. The space spanning 7,000 square meters will be categorized under the theme called “Habitable Constructions.”
The design was inspired by wicker baskets, a handicraft deeply rooted in both Spain and China.
The frontage of the pavilion will be covered by wicker while the rest of the building will be made from sustainable materials like bamboo and semi-transparent paper laid out on an intricate panel system.
“The Spain pavilion for the EXPO 2010 will have a steel structure and a wicker cover. Spanish handcrafters will weave out different patterns by using different colors of wicker”, said Benedetta Tagliabue of EMBT, designer of the pavilion. “The wicker will be covered by a special material that is water-proof. It will also keep the pavilion at a comfortable temperature.”
The Spanish cities Madrid, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza and Barcelona will be featured in the pavilion. When it began construction last May, Carlos Blasco, the Ambassador of Spain in China said: “Our objective is to let visitors know that Spain is a country where tradition and modernity coexist in all senses.” Madrid City is one of the 15 recipients worldwide of the award, “Area of Best Urban Practices,” distinction relevant to the Shanghai Expo’s “Better City, Better life” theme and one of the reasons that Madrid was given the opportunity to present their own pavilion.
The US$25 million pavilion project was awarded to Catalan EMBT Miralles-Tagliabue; its proposal besting 18 other top international Spanish architecture firms. Lead architect Benedetta Tagliabue tried to avoid the traditional box concept for pavilions by leaving large patios that will enable a better and free-flowing movement of the visitors.
Inside the pavilion, the exhibition will cover three main content units: “From nature to city,”“From our parents’ city to our current one,” and “From the current city to the future one.”
Due to the global financial crisis, Spain reduced its budget for the World EXPO. However, the country is still carrying out an intensive program of thematic activities, including pictures expositions and flamenco concerts among many others. Spain entrusted the pavilion’s exhibition project to three movie directors: Bigas Luna, Basilio Martín Patino and Isabel Coixet. The presentation of the contents remains strictly confidential and they are not going to reveal the details until the end of the year.
On the other hand, the pavilion will have its east wing divided into three floors where the visitor will be able to access several public services such as a tapas bar that can hold up to 300 people and where cuisine based on the best Spanish products will be offered.
There will also be a shop, an auditorium with a 200 people capacity and a business center which to take advantage of the EXPO functioning as a meeting place to increase and boost the Spanish business presence in China.
The pavilion, with a total floor area of 8,500 square meters, will have both open squares for cultural performances and an indoor area for exhibitions and cafeterias.
Client: SEEI (Sociedad Estatal para Exposiciones Internacionales, S.A.)
Budget: €18.000.000,00
Date: 2007 – in progress
Site: Shanghai, China
Surface: 8500 mq
Location: SHANGHAI
Site area: 6465,80 m2
Bldg. area: 5169,60 m2
Gross floor area: 10951,06 m2
Structure: Iron
Exterior finishing: wicker, etfe, glass
Interior finishing: bamboo, wicker, wood, dry wall
Design Year (period): 2007-2008
Completion: 2010
Architect: Benedetta Tagliabue
Miralles Tagliabue EMBT
