• Home
• /
• Economy
• /
• Business

UAE pavilion, a falcon in flight

Dubai - Architect Santiago Calatrava's design selected for UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020

The UAE will soar to new heights with falcon-inspired design for its World Expo 2020 National Pavilion.
In November 2013, the UAE won the right to host the World Expo in Dubai. This will be the first time that a World Expo is staged in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had inaugurated the new logo of World Expo 2020 more than a month ago.
The National Media Council has selected architect Santiago Calatrava's design for the UAE Pavilion for Dubai World Expo 2020. Located facing the Al Wasl Plaza, which lies at the centre of the 200-hectare exhibition zone, the UAE Pavilion - whose design will be inspired by a falcon in flight - will represent the UAE to the 25 million visitors and participants from over 180 nations who are expected to visit the Expo from October 2020 to April 2021.
The UAE pavilion is expected to cover up to 15,000 square metres and will include numerous exhibition areas, an auditorium, food and beverage outlets and VIP lounges. It will be designed to embrace sustainable building principles.
Dubai's World Expo will be held under the theme of 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,' echoing the powerful spirit of partnership and co-operation that has driven the UAE's success in pioneering new paths of development and innovation.
Through this theme, Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a catalyst, connecting minds from around the world and inspiring participants to mobilise around shared challenges during a World Expo of unprecedented global scope.
On a 438 hectare site, connected to three international airports and a dedicated transport network, Expo will provide visitors with the chance to see spectacular architecture, merge with global cultures, examine thoughtful and thought provoking exhibitions, and taste food from every corner of the globe.
Santiago Calatrava's proposal was formally selected following a seven-month design competition managed by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, in its capacity as Programme Manager. The contest saw nine of the world's most renowned architectural firms submit 11 concepts. Each design was evaluated against specific criteria, including how fully the design expressed the main theme of Expo 2020 and how well it captured a distinct Emirati feel and a balance between the UAE's past and future.
Commenting on the appointment, Minister of State and National Media Council Chairman Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber said: "The proposed design of the UAE Pavilion captures the story we want to tell the world about our nation. Our late founding father His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan used falconry expeditions to forge connections between
tribes and to create a distinct national identity which ultimately led to the founding of the UAE. Now, the falcon design will symbolise how we are connecting the UAE to the minds of the world and how as a global community we can soar to new heights through partnership and cooperation."
Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi continued: "The pavilion will be one of the Expo's greatest icons. The design will evoke the pioneering spirit and power of connections that transformed the UAE from a collection of small, desert communities, into a global connection point. The UAE pavilion will become an important cornerstone in our site and will have a legacy plan that will reflect our hopes and ambitions for the many years to come."
Speaking of his appointment, Santiago Calatrava said, ". I am confident that the final design will be a symbol of the bold and daring spirit of the UAE, reflected in what is poised to be the most inclusive and global Expo in history."
Masdar chief executive officer Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi said, "We will capitalise on our experience developing Masdar City, which is on a journey to being the most sustainable urban development in the world, to ensure the delivery of an innovative, high-performance pavilion and community space that embraces the Expo's themes of mobility, opportunity and sustainability."
 

Double delight for Calatrava


Staff Report

dubai - Architect Santiago Calatrava has won two mega projects in Dubai this year. Born on July 28, 1951 Calatrava is an architect, engineer and sculptor.
Before winning the UAE Pavilion for Dubai World Expo 2020, the Spanish architect's design had been selected for 'The Tower' at Dubai Creek Harbour in April this year.
The design of Emaar Properties' $1 billion 'The Tower' at Dubai Creek Harbour draws design inspiration from the lily and evokes the image of a minaret, which is a common feature and distinctive aspect of Islamic culture It will be taller than the existing tallest building Burj Khalifa.
The credit for more than 70 notable projects goes to Calatrava since 1983. Among his many international architectural projects, his most recent are the in-progress World Trade Center Transportation Hub and St Nicholas Church in New York, as well as the Margaret McDermott Bridge in Dallas, Texas.
In November 2015, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design awarded Calatrava the 2015 European Prize for Architecture.
In August 2015, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat awarded his Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden the 10 Year Award.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com


Santiago Calatrava won two mega projects in Dubai this year.
 
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com