Malaysia Pavilion Expo Milano 2015 | Hijjas Kasturi Associates

In homage the Malaysian Pavilion draws upon the humble rice seed as its inspiration, symbolising its high cultural and dietary value to Malaysians, as well as its growing importance on the world food stage.

Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life
It is a humble theme that is intrinsic in its respect for Mother Earth, one cognisant of the
unsustainable consumption of the world’s resources in its demand for food, seeking a redress to
ensure that the ability of future generations to feed themselves will not be compromised.

As the exhibition is taking place during the warmest months of the year, ensuring thermal comfort in the solid pods being used for exhibition is essential. The Cross laminated timber is an ideal material as it has a high thermal mass and highly insulating compared to a material such as concrete. This reduces diurnal variation of internal temperature for solid pods exposed to solar radiation, as well as preventing higher external air temperatures being conducted through the material. The pods that are to be porous, such as the amphitheater, have been designed to allow maximum daylighting to penetrate into the space whilst maintaining structural integrity. This reduces the space’s dependence on artificial lighting and further reduces its operational carbon footprint.