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Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Architects: Calatrava International LLC.
Client: EXPO 2020 Dubai
Photographers: Palladium Photodesign and Roland Halbe

Embodying the main theme of Expo 2020 “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and as a symbol of the UAE’s pioneering spirit, Dr. Santiago Calatrava designed the host country’s Pavilion as national monument at the heart of the EXPO 2020 master plan to capture its identity and connect the country’s past with its future. 

Spanning across an area of approximately 15,000m2 and as a symbol of the UAE’s vision and ambition, the principal design concept draws inspiration from the Falcon - the National bird of the UAE. By channelling the powers of mobility and synchronized flow; the UAE Pavilion, with its 28 movable wings, powered by hydraulic actuators and housing a surface grid of photovoltaic panels within them is an architectural beacon that advocates for and harnesses human potential and innovation while representing a commitment to sustainability. Seeking to also pay homage to the UAE’s heritage, further inspiration was drawn upon the historic desert dweller and the Bedouin tent’s sheltering form - translated into the building’s elevation in honor and recognition of life in the desert and the local sustainable solutions associated to it. Simultaneously embracing the idea of connectivity, are the numerous radial pathways surrounding the Pavilion allowing visitors to experience it from 360 degrees in the same way the UAE has welcomed citizens and people from all corners of the world and transformed the UAE from a small desert community to a global hub. 

The UAE Pavilion’s steel roof is comprised of an array of 29 steel ribs set out radially span the façade of the pavilion and provide the structural framework of the roof’s sheltering form. A compression ring beam at the apex of the roof and a tension ring beam along the concrete perimeter wall supports each rib at two points, allowing for the wings to float without touching the ground. A total of 46 specialized hydraulic actuators allows the wings to open in a synchronized motion in just 3 minutes. The white colour and locally manufactured carbon fibre composite material and finishes of the wings allows for the roof to reflect ample sunlight and thus reduce solar gain, in response to the harsh sun and heat common to the region. Upon opening, the movable wings reveal the photovoltaic panels embedded within them which have been designed to absorb sunlight to harvest energy. Once closed, the wings shelter and protect the photovoltaic panels from rain and sandstorms. 

In response to the UAE climate and in line with the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development, the architectural design of the Pavilion meets the highest standards of sustainability and was awarded LEED Platinum Certification. Through the implementation of elements that are energy efficient, reduce water consumption with 100% of the irrigation demand sourced from treated water, through the selection of only native and adaptive species, and reduced energy consumption by 41% achieved by an energy efficient cooling system, lighting and building envelope to optimise indoor air quality, the UAE Pavilion respects and sustains ecological limits and natural resource constraints. 

With the aim to create people-centric, comfortable outdoor public areas; open spaces, and walkways were carefully considered. Shaded arcades beneath the floating wings and sunken, shaded gardens at the basement level, which provide access to the lower level of the Pavilion, are oriented to channel wind and air flow to create comfortable outdoor environments that are further cooled by large pools flanking pedestrian walkways. The strategic location of both canopy trees and shade canopies also provides a consistent spread of shade to the open area in response to harsh sunlight common to the UAE and offer a cool and tranquil environment with large water pools and trees naturally cooling the air, creating shade, and reducing reflected heat. As such, passive cooling, ventilation, and shading strategies are central to ensuring that energy consumed by the building is both reduced and managed. 

With the majority of construction materials locally sourced, the UAE Pavilion is one of the few structures at the EXPO 2020 that will not be dismantled after the world fair event and will be part of the Expo’s legacy planning strategy to be reused as a cultural facility. The local sourcing, manufacturing and potential for reuse has contributed to reducing the carbon-footprint and enhancing responsible and regional sourcing and manufacturing 

Furthermore, with a Gross Internal Floor Area of 13,000m2, the building arrangement and spatial relationships ensure both functionality and free flow of movement across near column-free exhibition spaces spread across three primary levels. At the core of the UAE Pavilion is a 25m-diameter faceted sphere with a specialist lifting platform that supports the interior seating of the auditorium with the ability to transport up to 200 people from one floor to another. At the apex of the UAE Pavilion’s roof is the 12m diameter oculus serving as a skylight and reflecting the EXPO 2020 logo.