Pavilion Belgium Expo Milan 2015
Patrick Genard & Asociados + Mark Belderbos
Expo Milan
2015
Food
The theme of Expo 2015 in Milan is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. Belgium is one of the 148 countries participating in the exhibition. We are known for our delicacies, and that was shown in the pavilion … You can drink a Belgian beer (for example a Trappist) or eat a hot waffle or chocolate. There are even chocolatiers at work in the pavilion.
Architecture
Architect Patrick Genard was born in Namur, but has been running an architectural firm in Barcelona for more than 20 years.
The Belgian Pavilion is based on an efficient city. The glass section represents the center of the city, the wooden the districts. Between these two parts there is room for rivers and parks (the flowery areas around the pavilion). Because of this green part the average temperature in the city will drop and everyone will have access to a green environment. The glass roof is inspired by the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken and is an ode to the farm.
Sustainability and Belgian
Sustainability is elaborated in three elements: limiting the demand for energy, water management and the use of recyclable materials. Some materials have been rented and the bar is made of old windows. The glass of the dome can kill bacteria, an invention of the Belgian company AGC. The materials used are modular and easy to dismantle. They have been chosen so that they do not leave any traces on the site. The goal was to have the smallest “footprint” of the entire exhibition.
The heat pumps work with water from the channels and the glass of the roof contains solar panels. The water from showers and toilets is reused.
Belgian design is also represented with furniture of Extremis.
Belgian Pavilion 2015
Patrick Genard & Asociados + Mark Belderbos
Expo Milan
2015
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