monaco pavilion by naco architectures

international firm naco architectures have designed the monaco pavilion for the shanghai expo 2010.

naco has come up with a building image that expresses the identity of the client and also taken a global approach to architectural design adopted by marcelo joulia, founder of naco, which combines hard construction and soft media creations conceived as accelerators for encounters in urban space. the result is a chunk of the monegasque coast that projects the ceaseless ripples of the mediterranean, literally transposed onto a 12 m-high vertical envelope in pudong.

naco architectures: monaco pavilion at shanghai expo 2010

the 3D digital morphing of the mediterranean inlet displays dancing pixels. the system relies on a network of feeder pipes that are constantly topping up real miniature sea pools hidden behind the facade, and whose constant pattern-changes are reflected onto the glass envelope to light up the pavilion. as soon as the sun goes down, artificial lighting takes over. sunlight is used as an architectural device that ensures flow, and the logic is pushed to its end term because the building is also solar-powered.

naco architectures: monaco pavilion at shanghai expo 2010 how the projection works

naco architectures: monaco pavilion at shanghai expo 2010 construction of the pavilion