Moldova Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 | Gorgona Architecture & Design

The theme of the next world expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” which implies that our Planet is our Home, and people on this planet have same right under the sun and each of us must have equal access to quality food, clean water,  and healthy life style through good nutrition and safe energy.

Exploring the idea of pure energy internationally renowned artist Pavel Braila has proposed that the entire pavilion of Republic of Moldova to be transformed into an impressive environmental installation.  On the base of Gorgona’s winning project for the architectural style of the pavilion, Braila created an ambitious site specific solar installation which makes the Pavilion of Moldova to work inside and outside in the same time and that the audience begins to experience the Pavilion before it is even inside of it. 

“Solar Flower” - the key element of the Pavilion, represents itself a triple mirror cube which surface consists of thousands of the facets is installed on a top of sloped metal stalk and comes just over the top of the transparent glass cube. A mirror system  installed on the each corner of the glass cube follows the movement of sun all day long and reflect the sunbeam upon a rotating mirror cube creating an effect of myriad spots of light spinning around all over the space. Taking advantage of the transparency of the pavilion architecture, the magic effect will be observed on the walls inside and far outside of the building – on passages, terraces, lawns etc thus making every passing pedestrian being a visitor of the pavilion. The mirror installation will be also equipped with the solar batteries so the energy will be saved for the nighttimes hence making the pavilion working 24/24.

The transparency of the building and thrilling sun-effect that is obtained from the Sun - the biggest world’s energy source at no costs, invites audience and clearly talks about global social concerns, environmental heritage, openness, and equality.  The sunbeam reflections all over the space besides spectacular scenery make a paradigm shift: it's time to rethink the use of conventional energies and concentrate on new pure energy with no environmental harm, preserving the natural resources and demonopolisation of the power-energy. It’s also a strong mythological reference to Prometheus – who stole the fire power from gods and gives it to human, bringing enlightenment and intelligence to all the people. 

The long corridor sheltered with real green plants that goes through transparent glass cube reflects attention of the architects about the environment, nature, human beings and invites the audience into a bio-zone of Moldovan farming and agricultural traditions, ecological food and its famous wine which are not yet well known in the western world and to encourage visitors to get in line and be curious about what the pavilion has to tell. After coming inside, the first thing the audience encounters is a special planetarium -  a series of twelve constellations made of neon on black plastic which according to Pavel Braila “these constellations are not knows by the world and can only be seen from Moldova”. The constellation of Bride, Plowman, Grape, Cheese, Stork, Jaws ..  First people who navigated the oceans used stars to guide them and to discover new lands.Here the stars guide the public through to discover the country which some people from the audience never heard of.

Artist states: “As the night progresses, the net of stars covers the sky, by looking at them I get inspired to tell you my story, in the way I want, much too far from the reality and much closer to another truth… "

Energy of People – Energy of Life

Entering in the main hall, the audience will discover the large scale projection of the film “JOC”, without dialogue and without narration.  Specially realized for the World Expo Milano 2015 the film features the legendary folk dance band JOC, the oldest and most legendary in Moldova. It was founded in 1945, during its long history JOC had more than 7000 shows all over the globe. The film is an ode to Moldova’s authentic dance and beautiful people, great music and national costumes. Visual narration developed by Pavel Braila in this film with overwhelming details and fascinating movements will make audience to step into Moldovan Identity engaging the intimate and universal through the sensual and emotional language of dance. Dance and pure joy is the core element of Moldovan people and the embodiment of great spirit and energy for Life.

Feeding the Planet

Walking out of the exhibition hall visitors will pass by a food corner which welcomes with a nice ambiance where everybody will experience snacks and beverages made from biologically pure products, not modified genetically and grown in nature friendly conditions.  Having the opportunity to try Moldovan traditional food, visitors will be introduced to how the products from the bar were cultivated and how agriculture works in our country by dealing with it in a new entertaining way and will show that while Organic sustainable food and cooking should be the future of Europe and entire world, in Moldova this is the present and a daily life and we are ready to share with all the planet what we have. 

 side specific effects

Every World Expo is a huge machinery for representing the world’s nations, and every nation is ready to put in a lot of money. Expo Milan would not be an exception in this sense but probably because of its theme “Feed The Planet – Energy for life” this expo will make all the participants think differently on the aspect of expenses,  pollution and material waste before and after the expo. The pavilions are only temporary structures and usually after the show practically all the pavilion are destroyed or abandoned and only in few cases they remain used on the permanent base. . 

Moldova is the first timer in such a huge event and participating in it is a huge expense even its pavilion area is only 350 skm and because of this Pavilion of Moldova 2015 will make sure to focus on the idea of the them “Feed the Planet Energy for Life ” but in the same time to guarantee that the pavilion will be used and after the show. That’s why after the end of the show the Pavilion will be brought back to Moldova to be used afterwards as a Center and Exhibition Hall for Contemporary Art and Architecture.

In this way “Shine the Light” the Pavilion of Republic of Moldova will showcase an exceptional and multilayered story on pure energy and ecological food alongside with the importance of structure and material being sustainable.