World Expos’ History
In 1849 Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, came up with the idea of inviting international exhibitors to participate in an exposition.
The first world Expo held in the iconic Crystal Palace celebrated the fruits of the industrial revolution in London in 1851. The pavilions were revolutionary iron and plate glass structures, showcasing technology from all over the world.
The inspiration of bringing a world of innovation to one place was highly successful. Over six million people visited the Expo, equivalent to 28% of the national population.
World Expos are hosted every five years in cities around the world. Past World Expos have seen innovations such as live television (1939 New York), the mobile phone (1970 Osaka), and the first humanoid robot (Nagoya 2005) revealed to the world for the first time.
This tradition has been ongoing for 170 years now. Dubai Expo picks up the baton of sustainability with the theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ in 2021.
Three Hubs Announce the Dubai Expo 2020 Mission
The theme of the Expo – ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ aims to cultivate new connections, collaborations and partnerships across sectors and geographies, with the event serving as a platform to inspire progressive change that will shape the future.
There are three Expo Districts suggesting how this can be achieved: Opportunity Pavilion (designed by AGi Architects), Mobility Pavilion (designed by Foster and Partners) and Sustainability Pavilion (designed by Grimshaw Architects).
The master plan spreads out over 438 hectares (1,080 acres) of level ground. Visitors to Expo 2020 will have the world at their fingertips, with 192 countries taking part, and each pavilion telling a different story
The Architecture Is a Challenge to Our Senses
Dubai Expo 2020 is vast by any exhibition standard. Everything is on a grand scale that dwarfs the visitor, yet there are a myriad spaces where they can shelter among trees, and recover their perspective. The local municipality spent over $US 6 million on 800,000 plants, plus vegetation. These transform Dubai Expo 2020 into a lush desert oasis.
The Expo’s architectural marvels include the world’s largest 360-degree projection surface, at least 90 uniquely designed national pavilions, and 200,000 square meters of futuristic structures. These achievements rightly resulted in the project achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Therefore we can expect to be somewhat daunted by vast structures and broad spaces. The expo has finally risen from the desert, even though COVID-19 delayed opening until October 2021. What more fitting way to view it than from a palm-like, garden in the sky, gliding 160 passengers up and down on magnetic propulsion.
Our Planet’s Future in Sustainability District
The astute visitor notices sustainability in action as they explore this District. They see advanced technology promoting the vision, as the nations of the world champion green technology. And they glimpse what it will be like living harmoniously with nature, as the tech vision they long for comes to fruition.
A parabolic roof shelters visitors. Here they imagine what it could be like to be in balance with the world. The exhibition insists we can, and will coexist with nature in a high tech environment. Solar energy and water-condensing trees are on display, enlivening a stream flowing through traditional irrigation channels.
The giant pavilion appears to float on air. Yet it offers enlivening experiences from diving deep in the ocean, to exploring huge forest roots. Here is proof of the glory of nature that human technology can save when done smartly. But this is not something we can achieve nationally. Dubai Expo 2020 believes this will be a global effort.
New Ways to Travel and Connect at Mobility District
Mobility is the key to our sustainable future. But here we are thinking more than just carbon-free transport. We are entering a traversal virtual world, where we travel, communicate and share in our imagination. This is a place to visualize limitless interconnection helping us understand each other better, and share.
Mobility pavilion demolishes walls between physical and digital space. Instead, they operate on a continuum meeting sustainability’s demands. Enter the giant structure and you propel into a future where we build a glorious, harmonious global society together. Digital softens cultural differences. Hear from giants and reach for stars.
Unlock this Potential in Opportunity District
Dubai Expo 2020’s vision coalesces from dream to possibility in the giant halls of Opportunity district. Here we learn to open new doors to everyone in the world. The exhibits showcase how this is already happening. We are on the way to a better future. We can sustain it, now we know how.
The Dubai Expo 2020 will live on after the doors close, as the buildings repurpose to form 80% of a sustainable, human-centric city. Here, the people of the world will continue to come. Continue to come, meet and discuss how to take the bold ideas of the Expo forward. Keep hoping those doors never close, and that vision materializes soon.
www.expo2020dubai.com
