Architecture

Zaha Hadid Architects looks to Ukraine's future with Odesa Expo 2030

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Assuming it actually goes ahead, Odesa Expo 2030 will consist of multiple buildings which will later be used throughout Ukraine once the expo comes to a close
JKLab
Assuming it actually goes ahead, Odesa Expo 2030 will consist of multiple buildings which will later be used throughout Ukraine once the expo comes to a close
JKLab
Odesa Expo 2030's buildings are specially designed for easy dismantling and transportation with standard containers on Black Sea ships
MIR
Odesa Expo 2030 will be located in Ukraine's coastal port city Odesa, and overlook the Black Sea
MIR
Odesa Expo 2030's buildings will be powered by solar and wind power and will send excess electricity to nearby neighborhoods
JKLab
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Once the war with Russia is over, Ukraine will need to rebuild. As a small part of this effort, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has revealed plans to host a global trade fair in the country's port city Odesa. Assuming it goes ahead, the event will be centered around demountable pavilions that are powered by sustainable tech that can feed excess power back to the grid.

The project is named Odesa Expo 2030 and ZHA is handling the overall masterplan. It will feature multiple clusters of pavilions which showcase the firm's usual penchant for futuristic-looking curving facades and generous glazing. A lot of work went into less glamorous structural concerns too: in addition to being easy to dismantle, the buildings will be constructed using recycled materials and debris, and are designed to fit into barges for easy delivery via the nearby Black Sea. Another major focus is to ensure no useful materials go to waste in a country that badly needs all the concrete and steel it can use.

"The bespoke approach to designing and constructing national pavilions of previous expos has often resulted in significantly increased construction costs and time, together with higher embedded carbon and reduced flexibility for any future use," explained ZHA. "Addressing these issues, Odesa Expo 2030 will offer the participating nations the choice of a kit-of-parts to construct their pavilions. This flexible modular system will provide participating nations many varying options to design their pavilion using practical, creative and visitor-friendly principles that enable each nation to individually reinterpret the over-arching theme of Odesa Expo 2030 via their country's unique cultural expression."

Odesa Expo 2030's buildings will be powered by solar and wind power and will send excess electricity to nearby neighborhoods
JKLab

Once the expo is over, all of the pavilion buildings created will be dismantled and transported for use across Ukraine to find new use as government and administration buildings, etc. Renewable energy sources will also be integrated into the design of the pavilions, including solar panels and wind turbines, providing power for the fair and for the local community.

ZHA has joined the Ukrainian delegation at the 171st General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris to present the proposal. If successful, the plan will be for it to be built in time for use in 2030. ZHA has also previously revealed plans to build elsewhere in Ukraine with its eye-catching Dnipro Metro stations.

Source: ZHA

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1 comment
ReservoirPup
I have never associated ZHA with sustainable architecture. It is great to know I need to change that opinion at last. The fact they found time for a Ukrainian project is another very good thing about them I'll keep in mind.