One Ocean | SOMA

One Ocean Thematic Pavilion EXPO 2012 (eng - ita) ENG - The Thematic Pavilion will be one of the major facilities of the Yeosu EXPO held 2012 in South Korea. It’s exhibitions will give the visitors overview and introduction to the Expo’s theme, “The Living Ocean and Coast”. The aim of the design is to create an iconic landmark that is integrated into its urban context and the surrounding nature. We experience the Ocean mainly in two ways, as an endless surface and - in an immersed position - as depth. This inspires the main concept for the Thematic Pavilion, continuous surfaces that twist from vertical to horizontal orientation and create two exhibition spaces with contrasting spatial qualities. Continuous transitions between contrasting experiences also form the outer appearance of the Pavilion. Towards the sea the conglomeration of solid vertical cones defines a new meandering coast line, a soft edge that is in constant negotiation between water and land. Opposite side the pavilion develops out of the ground into an artificial roof–landscape with gardens and scenic paths. The topographic lines of the roof turn into lamellas of the kinetic media façade that faces the Expo’s entrance and the “Digital Gallery” The main design intent was to embody the Expo’s theme The Living Ocean and Coast and transform it into a multi-layered architectural experience. Therefore the Expo’s agenda, namely the responsible use of natural resources was not visually represented, but actually embedded into the building, e.g. through the sustainable climate design or the biomimetic approach of the kinetic façade. The cutting-edge façade system was developed together with Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and supports the aim of the world exhibition to introduce forward-looking innovations to the public. ITA - Il progetto “sperimenta” l’oceano in due modi: come superficie infinita e come profondità. Il padiglione si presenta con superfici continue che alterano l'orientamento da verticale a orizzontale e creano due spazi espositivi caratterizzati da qualità spaziali contrastanti. Transizioni continue tra esperienze contrastanti caratterizzano anche l'aspetto esterno del padiglione. Verso il mare l’insieme di solidi coni verticali definisce una nuova sinuosa linea di costa, un “bordo” morbido in costante dialogo tra acqua e terra. Il lato opposto del padiglione si sviluppa fuoriterra in un tetto-paesaggio con giardini e sentieri panoramici. Le linee topografiche del tetto si trasformano in lamelle nella facciata digitale che si affaccia sull'ingresso dell’Expo e sulla "Digital Gallery". .