UAE pavilion at shanghai expo 2010

‘united arab emirates pavilion’ image © designboom

the united arab emirates pavilion designed by foster + partners is a huge golden sand dune reminiscent of the country’s desert. the outer covering of the pavilion is gold-colored stainless steel. its undulating roof, looking as if it has been shaped by the wind, makes the pavilion shimmer and change colors, thus, reminding visitors of the middle east country’s various natural environments. with a capacity of 450 people and enclosing 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, the pavilion is one of the largest structures built for the 2010 shanghai expo.

flat stainless steel panels joined by adjustable nodes enable the pavilion to be demounted on site and constructed quickly and economically. image © designboom

desert comprised of sands in red, golden and white colors, the ups and downs of hills, a scattered oasis ringed with ancient camel bells, and boats with glimmering sails on the ocean are all staged in the video inside the pavilion, reminding visitors of what an important role the natural environment and wild life play in the culture and lifestyle of the UAE people.

the shape of the pavilion is designed in response to shanghai’s weather. it protects against the direct glare of the city’s summer sun but allows indirect light to enter the pavilion via louvers. visitors approach the ‘dunes’ by a walkway, which follows a stream of water towards the entrance.

for more info on the early stages of development of the united arab emirates pavilion, see designboom’s previous coverage here.