Renowned Chilean architect Cristián Undurraga has created a standoutpavilion for this year’s World Exposition, currently taking place in Milan andrunning until the end of October. Inspired by "the art ofhospitality", the pavilion features a dramatic external wooden facade andstretches over 1,910 sq m (20,560 sq ft). It is strategicallypositioned next to EXPO’s central concert arena and is a worthwhile stop toexplore Chile's art, culture, wine and cuisine.
The Chile Pavilion has been designed to takevisitors through several interactive spaces that investigates the country’srich natural landscapes, including theAtacama Desert, Patagonia, central green valleys, eastern islands and its volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, lakes and beaches.
The pavilion itself is anenormous suspended structuremade with a series of large woodenlintels that have been assembled similar to a Meccano set. Theimpressive structure is supported by four concrete pillars and beautifully encasedby two horizontal cross-beams.
"On one hand wewanted to show Chile's construction tradition of buildingwith wood," Sebastian Mallea from Undurraga Deves Architects told Gizmag. "At thesame time, this noble and sustainable material allowed us to create abridge-like structure, supported by six columns, freeing the ground floor andcreating an open but shaded space where the borders between the pavilion andits urban context are diffused."
Almost 1,000 sq m (10,764sq ft) of wood was used to complete the structure, and although the idea to buildsuch an epic structure for only six months is not very sustainable, thought wentinto the way the building could be re-used after EXPO 2015 wraps up at the end of October.
"To build such alarge structure to be used for only six months is not sustainable bydefinition," says Mallea. "Therefore, we concentrated our efforts on how to extendthe building's life cycle. For this reason we created a Meccano-like structurewhere every single piece can be easily disassembled, transportedand reassembled somewhere else. At the same time we consciously designed avery flexible and neutral space that will allow different usesin the future."
The Chile pavilion isaccessible via a large central ramp and invites visitors to explore its several interior exhibition spaces. The exhibits boast anarray of art works, photography,interactive multimedia displays and sculptures from local Chilean artists. Once visitors have made their way through the exhibition spaces, they finish their journey at the "El Amor de Chile" restaurant, where they cansample some local Chilean specialties and wine.
At the conclusion of EXPO 2015, the pavilionwill be transported back to Chile where it will be recycled and re-usedfor other purposes.
Source: Undurraga Deves Architects
