EXPO - Milan

We performed the executive design and the installation of electrical, technological and security systems of Rice and Cacao Clusters and in six pavillons: Bahrain, the United States, Kuwait, Mexico, South Korea and Romania.

The most advanced technological solutions meet with different architectural contexts.

The work carried out in the pavilions of the nations participating in the universal exposition was a true challenge characterised by the highest technological components to be installed under strict time limits, complying with and adapting to diverse architectural contexts. Even if moderately sized when compared to other permanent fair installations, their intended use and the uniqueness of the event combined to create a concentrate of the most modern systems for power supply, controlling and managing installed electrical systems. In addition to traditional power distribution systems, systems for safety were also created and installed (fire detection, sound diffusion and emergency lighting) as well as for security (TVCC, anti-intrusion, access control) which together ensure maximum comfort and top safety standards for critical and emergency situations. The control system, which integrates all the subsystems, is equipped with user-friendly interfaces that complete the building management system and allow it to be managed simply and securely with total control by personnel.
In addition to the above system design, not to be overlooked are all the multimedia systems, as well as those serving to complement and decorate which, being accessible to the general public and equipped with the highest interactivity levels, make a visit to the pavilion a unique experience.

rice cluster

The Rice Cluster evoke the atmosphere of the countryside with the colours and scents of rural landscapes. Here you may discover the different stages of the diffusion of rice cultivation, exploring the innovations introduced over the centuries. Thanks to a spectacular display of pools, the pavilions recreate a landscape that recalls an immense rice paddy. Countries belonging to this cluster: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Basmati Pavilion.

cacao cluster

The Cacao and Chocolate Clusters draw inspiration from the plantations in the tropics where cacao is cultivated. Visiting them, you will have the impression of entering the jungle, where a series of poles in the common areas create the metaphor of trees under which the cacao tree grows. Inside, the history and process of cacao production is traced from cultivation to processing, and from distribution to transport. Countries belonging to this cluster: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Gabon, Ghana, São Tomé and Príncipe.

Installing the systems in the rice and cacao clusters required maximum flexibility to allow exhibition outfitting to be completed by the exhibitors, who arrived at a later time. The resulting installation permitted the exhibiting nations to proceed to personalise them, without changing the setup of the power supply systems and those serving to ensure the safety of the visiting public and structures.

Mexico is a true cradle of biodiversity, a heritage closely related to its millenary culture and one of the most diversified and varied gastronomies, with a history of flavours, culinary techniques and community-minded conduct. The Mexico Pavilion is shaped like an ear of maize that can be visited using the helicoidally ramps flanked by watercourses, reaching the terrace on the roof where a restaurant and urban garden are located. It was constructed with ecological materials and designed to facilitate the construction and disassembly phases.

Special importance was given to the pavilion’s lighting engineering design, evaluating during the construction phases the types and positioning of lighting fixtures so as to compensate for the natural light supply, aimed at integrating and enhancing the contents of the museum section.
The pavilion is externally covered by semi-transparent canopies backlit by projectors, whose light intensity is controlled by a touch-panel which creates a wonderfully spectacular effect.

The Bahrain Pavilion is an interpretation of the relations which link the country’s culture and the rich agricultural wealth that distinguishes it, due to the abundant sources of fresh water in this land. The architectural project was conceived as a continuous landscape of orchards intersecting each other. Built of prefabricated panels in white concrete, the pavilion will be moved to Bahrain at the end of Expo 2015.

The uniqueness of the pavilion construction, built of prefabricated panels so it can later be reassembled, required that the entire recessed system design be industrialized. All the power, management and control systems were designed with the building and dimensional limitations in mind that the built-in tubes imposed while the panels were being cast. The particularity of the cement that was used, natural and white and not vibrated, and the curved shape of the panels, each one different from the other, called for solutions that were more innovative than those required by traditional prefabrication.

Water, agriculture and energy are the great challenges that Kuwait faces to guarantee a better quality of life in keeping with sustainability. The pavilion’s structure evokes Kuwait’s sailing vessels, the Dhow, still in use in the Persian Gulf. The lateral façade represents an example of the greenhouses and hydroponic farming systems diffused throughout the country. The pavilion’s concept is a cross-section of the Kuwait territory, of its culture and its human and landscape resources, embellished by the typical elements of the Arab souks.

The pavilion features a number of systems dedicated to multimedia. The many demands linked to these systems required particular adaptations in installing the special and electrical systems, to offer secure functions regarding safety and operational continuity. The goal was achieved using special technology that ensures the highest safety standards available on the market today, all the while having a low aesthetic impact, so that the work’s overall result was not jeopardised.

The USA Pavilion brings to mind the lines of a traditional American barn, constructed according to an open design on multiple levels. It features a large “vertical farm” which is harvested daily. Its aim is to promote the awareness and passion for American cuisine and its key figures, offering an entertaining, engaging and pleasurable experience. The pavilion is equipped with a lighting control system, integrated with multimedia systems which guarantee the possibility of creating pre-set scenarios that adapt to the building’s various events. A touch-panel interface installed in the control room allows the lighting levels as well as the colours of the light emitted to be programmed. This promotes flexible usage of the areas, which can be adapted to every need in the many events organised in the pavilion’s various areas.

The Pavilion of the Republic of Korea is an arena of dialogue and discussion on how humanity will be fed in the future. It was built on the architectural theme of the “Moon Jar”, a typical pottery vessel shaped like the full moon where several traditional dishes are fermented. It showcases the diverse culinary techniques that are deeply rooted in the country’s culture, representative of the age-old belief that nature is not an object to be conquered but one that must be understood and revered.

The systems installed in the pavilion were designed with the purpose of being interfaced and completed by third-party suppliers in a subsequent moment. Furthermore, special attention was paid in selecting the luminaires and with regard to their environmental impact, in order to optimise electrical energy consumption. Approximately 95% of the luminaires are LED-sourced. For outdoor lighting, pole-mounted luminaires were used powered by a photovoltaic system installed on-board, ensuring they are lit only by solar energy. To create a spectacular effect, projectors using LED RGBW (Red/Green/Blue/White) technology were installed on the roof to illuminate the pavilion’s domes: this technology allows an infinite number of shades to be obtained by mixing colours.

The main message that Romania wants to communicate is the intimate harmony the country enjoys with nature. The Romanian pavilion is a contemporary interpretation of a typical village and was designed to offer a unique experience in the Romanian micro-universe which gradually reveals itself during the visit.
The pavilion features an engineering installation integrated with all the electrical, mechanical and audio-visual systems. Great attention was paid to the multimedia audio-visual systems, creating a wall of LED screens covering a total surface area of 185 m². The pavilion also houses an entire room of 100 m² used for live shows, closed off completely by internal and external walls with LED screens that are fixed or mobile and rotating. Special air conditioning systems were designed and installed to deal with the substantial thermal loads produced by the LED panels and to ensure proper ambient temperatures. The live shows are supported by a sound diffusion and amplification system typical of concerts with Yamaha components for a total of 7.4kW. Background music in the transit areas is diffused using Yamaha components, whereas for outdoor and the garden areas, Bose components were employed, specifically studied for a 360° sound diffusion coverage.