Russia Pavilion at EXPO 2015 | SPEECH

Russia has taken part in world EXPO since the very first ‘Great Exhibition’ in London in 1851. Over the years Russian architectural designs have always helped to create integral ensembles at the exhibitions and many pavilions can rightly be classed landmarks, not only in Russian, but also in world architecture.

 Through the decades Russian Pavilions at EXPO have won numerous design and architectural awards. In 1937, the pavilion of the USSR won the Grand Prix at that year’s Paris Expo and in 1958 in Brussels. At the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, Russia’s pavilion was awarded the Silver Medal. Russia’s sustained success should come as no surprise, as only the finest architects are commissioned to work on the conception, development and architectural preparation of the Russian pavilion. EXPO 2015 is no exception.

 The concept for the Pavilion at EXPO 2015 in Milan was developed by the architectural office SPEECH, led by Sergei Tchoban (whose previous projects have included the Federation Tower, Moscow, ‘DomAquarée’, Berlin and ‘Nevskaya Ratusha’, St. Petersburg), Alexei Ilin and Marina Kuznetskaya.

 With an area of over 4000 square metres, the pavilion – is a dynamic and expansive structure, with a lightning motif, surging skywards. In the concept phase of the pavilion’s development, the architects

researched the tradition of dynamic design of previous Soviet- and then Russian and pavilions at EXPO. Many of the most successful Russian pavilions of the 20th century have characteristic common architectural features of dynamic and ambitious development of form and the realization of unique engineering solutions. Beyond these characteristics, in the 2015 pavilion, there was a strong compulsion to work with green technologies. The basic element of the exterior of the pavilion is an ecologically-sourced timber façade construction, which fulfils both the function of protecting the structure from the sun as well as creating a shelter in front of the exit. The uneven, gradually rising roofline enhances the sense of the building merging gracefully with its natural surroundings.

The flat roof of the pavilion, which is accessible to all visitors, gently rises towards the main entrance. In this way, the space in front of the main access to the pavilion from the principal pedestrian thoroughfare of the EXPO 2015 site is covered by a 30m long canopy – both the highest point of the pavilion structure and a unique architectural and decorative element in its own right. Visitors will have the opportunity, having passed through the main exhibition areas of the pavilion on the ground floor, to ascend to the roof, to take part in special pavilion events and activations.

EXPO 2015 will take place in Milan from 1 May to 31 October 2015. 145 countries will take part in the exhibition. The total area of the EXPO 2015 site is over 1,000,000 square metres. Visitor numbers are expected to exceed 20,000,000.