The United Arab Emirates commission the construction of their UAE Pavilion – Expo Milano 2015 to Sir Norman Foster. The British architect will create a space of over 4,000 square meters to present the country's history in an original way. The project will reproduce the typical desert city in Milan to demonstrate its energy efficiency.
Two undulating walls 12 meters high will be developed like dunes in the desert, on a large lot near the centre of the Expo and inside will contain a cylindrical theatre.
The narrow pedestrian streets within the structure will provide a contemporary reinterpretation of the winding circulation of people in local communities.
“We had to design for conditions in both Milan and Abu Dhabi.” commented Gerard Evenden, architect director of the project and senior partner at Foster + Partners.
“It was a great architectural challenge!” “Our aim was not simply to create an iconic building but to build a space that is an integral part of our story and theme itself. Everything that we have done is connected to the UAE and its efforts to achieve sustainable solutions. We draw on natural landscape and vernacular architecture as well as modern designs that are themselves influenced by traditional forms. A roof-top garden will help to supply the restaurant whilst a variety of green energy technologies will be employed”.
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