2010年6月22日 星期二

Anglo America and Latin America Pavilions

Here I want to introduce on one of countries of Anglo-America and
Latin-America Anglo-America in Shanghai Expo.




Canada
















Canada is the first country signing a contract agreeing to open an exhibition at Expo 2010.The 6,000-square-meter Canada Pavilion which is covered in polished steel and cedar, features an exhibition themed "The Living City".The Canadian pavilion features the National Film Board of Canada film Glimpses/Impressions, depicting a day in the life of a composite Canadian city. Directed by Jean-François Pouliot, Glimpses was created with over 3,000 animated photos projected onto a large screen with a 150-degree curve.





Mexico















With an area of 4,000 square meters and the theme "Living Better", Mexico's pavilion is located within the set of American pavilions. The physical space divided into three levels represents in turn three different moments of our country's cities. The past in the basement of the pavilion, present-day Mexico at the access level and the future on the platform of the slope. This great plaza is the heart of the Mexican pavilion. It is the representation of a kite forest and our proposal for the future. The natural grass shows the concern for the recovery of green areas in cities and invites people to carry out different activities, from reading a book, to having a picnic or simply resting in the shade



Brazil











The tropical-forest-like Brazil Pavilion shows off the cultural diversity and dynamism of Brazilian cities with the theme "Pulsing Cities: Feel the Life of Brazilian Cities." Brazil invites visitors to touch upon the beat and pulse of its cities. The architectural project of the pavilion was conceived to present visitors with an interactive virtual show, based on audiovisual stimuli using existing models in Brazil, such as the Portuguese Language Museum and Football Museum, for example.





The Joint African Pavilion











The Joint Afican Pavilion




The Joint African Pavilion shows a very subtle relationship between China and African region. It means that how China gains its power on Africa. The Joint African which includes 42 Africa countries and a international institution (AU) is the biggest Pavilion of Shanghai Expo.


Since the opening of the Shanghai Expo, African pavilions have been more popular among tourists, especially the World Cup host' s pavilion - the South Africa Pavilion.



Actually, there are 50 African nations and the African Union present their interpretation of the “Better City, Better Life” theme in Shanghai, , African governments and businesses exhibit at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in efforts to showcase tourism and trade potential. Of the 50 African nations exhibiting, 42 have joined forces to build the Joint-Africa Pavilion, a 22.6 thousand square meters (243,264.38 sq. ft) exhibit hall with individual country exhibition areas and over 100 exhibits from Africa. Located near a main entrance of the expo, construction for the Joint-Africa Pavilion began in August 2008, and is developed in part with investment money from a $100-million fund set up by the organizers of the expo for the over 100 participating developing countries participating. The remaining 8 African countries exhibiting, including South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria, will rent their own separate pavilions.




The sequare i front of the Joint Afican Pavilion
























The huge wall, dubbed "African smiles" , shows faces of different colors across the world, centered on Lucy, the iconic early human ancestor specimen that walked the Earth 3.2 million years ago and was uncovered in 1974 and nicknamed "Lucy".







2010年6月18日 星期五

The influences of World Expo in the social and political aspects

     The World Expo holding in rountine is an activity,which attracts people's attention all around the world.
It's regulated that the fair is sorted into two types, which are the one holding in every five years and the other is a small fair holding between the two Expos every 3 months. The data above is estimated and sometimes the period between the World Expos changes.

     The purpose of the World Expo is to let the participative countries to interact with other participants by their displays and also prohibit their progress in many fields and prospects in the future. In addition, they can present their power and influences by their products, technology and culture. Some said "it's a record to the wisdom of social civilization and the possibility to the future." It's a right time for those participants to show their achivements in modern culture, techonology and industry.

In social aspects, taking Shanghai for example, it's a both traditional and advanced city before it holds the fair. Some of the people in Shanghai don't look highly on their wearing and behaviors and they don't care about whether they wear the right clothes to the occasion. It's quite a shame for visitors to see the citizens in Shanghai walk around on the street in pajamas, which can easily destroy the image while the China government are making efforts to set up itself an international image. Not only the government does some education to their citizens but also it conducts lots of contructions,such as public transportaions, and some developments, which is much relative to the appearence of the city. Moreover, a few standards which keeps up with those in Europe are released in Shanghai in order to revise the misunderstandings toward the city and the nation in many Westerners' minds.

In political aspects, it's necessary for a host to have a good financial fundament and power if a nation wants to hold a World Expo. Therefore, those who have held the fairs must be equipped with the conditions above because it absolutely costs a huge amount of money to raise such a big activity. It's a recognition and evidence to a country that it's developed enough and has many achivements dominant in the world. Also, the host nation gains reputation since it presents its power and progress in front fo people. After the fair is over, the status of the country who held the fair is much better than before and makes many accesses to many organizations and councils.


All in all, although the nation makes much sacrifice to accomplish the goal, it's worthy of doing it. The total influences makes the country stronger and more open-minded to the world.

2010年6月14日 星期一

Pavilions (UK, France, Italy)

United Kingdom Pavilion

Country:United Kingdom
Capital:London
Theme:Builiding on the Past, Shaping Our Future
Highlights:Seed Cathedral, Wrapping paper
Location:Within Zone c of the Expo site




Features
The first exposition in England was held in Crystal palace at Hyde Park,
but it was destroyed by a fire half century ago. Today, United Kingdom brought a new vision
of Crystal Palace to World Expo. It's a dazzling cube formed by more than 60,000 slim and transparent acrylic rods containing seeds of different plants that were collected in a bio-diversity project. (from official website)

Highlights
1.Green Cities:
Visitors will travel through four UK's capital cities from west to east - Belfast, Cardiff, London and Edinburgh. Large "green maps" of the cities are on display. The best way to show how green British cities really are is to "erase" all the buildings and streets, leaving only the green spaces.
2.Seed Cathedral
The core exposition of the UK's pavilion are different plants.They will be surrounded by the seeds in a 20-meter-high hollow cube-like structure with the seeds embedded in the walls and ceilings. The seeds demonstrate the concept of sustainability, the diversity of nature and the potential of life.



3.Living City
Showing imaginary future plants and a lot of plants in the living city. It wants people to know how scientists do for our earth and how science has used nature in area, and how plants of the future could offer solutions to climate change and other global concerns.




4.Olympic Corner
A place to give visitors a view about the future scene in the Olympics 2012. The area features a large "green map" of the 2.5-square-kilometer Olympic Park in Stratford in East London, which will be turned into the largest city park in Britain



5.City Park
The place is to designed to be the area for performances and for children to play football as a city park. Some UK football stars may be on hand to teach soccer skills to children. Many activities will focus on the English traditional theater- strenching back to Williams Shakesbear. In addition, some performances of currently international prestigious artists and performers.




France Pavilion
Country: Framce
Capital: Paris
Theme: The Sensual City
Highlights: A Style of Floating
Location: Within Zone C of the Expo site




Features
The "Sensual City" itself is impressive with a large, classical roof garden and a pond. The walls of the square-shaped structure, which is made from a special concrete, are covered in plants and it looks like a white floating palace. Gardens are the centerpiece of the pavilion. (from official website)


Highlight
1. Floating Palace
It seems like floating in the beauty rhyme with water






2. French Style Garden
There are streams, fountains and water gardens in it so visitors can enjoy in the sound and aquatic environment. Playing the sound effect of the French city makes people a feeling that they were walking in France.



3. Sights, Smells, Tastes, Sounds and Feel of France
The idea wants to give people both the atmosphere and the sense of France
4. Alain Delon
Alain Delon is a spokesman of France Pavilion and will introduce his close ties with China at the France Pavilion Channel.
5. Cat Leon
The mascot of France will interact with every visitor.







6. Romantic French Wedding
It's a chance for people to witness a romantic French wedding. New couples will tie the knot in the beautiful French-style garden within the pavilion.





Italy Pavilion
Country: Italy
Capital: Rome
Theme: City of Man
Highlights: 20 Functional Modules
Location: Within Zone c of the Expo site


Features
It's inspired the children's game "pick-up sticks," which is known as "Shanghai" in Italy. The rectangular pavilion has been laced with intersecting lines - representing pick-up sticks. It comprises 20 functional modules of different shapes, bounded by the "sticks." They represent Italy's 20 regions. The modules can be assembled into smaller structures. (from the official website)

Hignlights
1.Transparent Concrete
It means making use of a cutting-edge construction material. The building company of the pavilion will promote the material to China after the Expo.




2.Inventions
It includes the country's latest innovations, such as a paint that cleans the air by
eating smog. There are about 300 winning things displayed in the pavilion.




3.Craft show
Italy is known for its crafts and famous brand all over the world. In the pavilion, people can see many art crafts produced by tailors, blacksmiths and violinists.




                                        4. Energy Efficiency








Reference:

World Expo Shanghai China. 8 Jun. 2010 http://en.expo2010.cn/hec/en_gj_tpl_38.htm

Pavilions (China, Japan and Taiwan)

Theme: Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development
Highlights: Traditional Dougong Style
National Pavilion Day: October 1
Location: Within Zone A of the Expo Site




The amazing picture above is China pavilion.

The contour design of the pavilion is based on the concept of "Oriental Crown, Splendid China, Ample Barn, and Rich People," to express the spirit and disposition of Chinese culture. The pavilion will have a core exhibition area on the top floor, an experience area on the second and a functional area on the first. China's achievements in urban development from ancient to modern times will be the core theme of the pavilion. (From the official website)















Features:
The main structure of the China Pavilion, "The Crown of the East," has a distinctive roof, made of traditional dougong or brackets, which date back more than 2,000 years. The dougong style features wooden brackets fixed layer upon layer between the top of a column and a crossbeam. This unique structural component of interlocking wooden brackets is one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture. Dougong was widely used in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-467 BC). (From the official website)

You can see the fabulous struture and the splendid appearance which really shows us China's ambition. As I know, it is the most brightly struture in this expo. When you go in to the expo area, the huge and red building stands still in front of you. I believe it will give every visitor a big shock. We know that China is the host of this world expo, so China pavilion stands for the whole image of China and it sucessfully takes everyone's focus.













(Japan Pavilion)


Theme: Harmony of the Hearts, Harmony of the Skills
Highlights: Breathing Organism
National Pavilion Day: 12 June
Pavilion Area: Around 6,000 Square Meters
Location: Within Zone A of the Expo site


Features:
The Japan Pavilion is a semi-circular structure, covered by a purple membrane material. Several antennae and caves make the pavilion a "breathing organism," which will express the harmony between the human heart and technology. The pavilion has been dubbed "Purple Silkworm Island" by Chinese people.

The pavilion uses solar energy collection batteries hidden in the double-layer membrane, and the cave will collect rainwater to spray on its exterior surface to keep temperatures cool. The pavilion is divided into past, present and future exhibits. (From Official Website)






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan is always featured by its recycle and robot technology. Also, in this world expo, Japan displays its high technology and history. There are robots guiding people in its pavilion and even playing instruments. Jpana also emphasizes on environment protection and power reusing. We can see not only how high-tech Japan is but also its history, because Japan set up three zones, past, present and future in its pavilion to show people its ancient culture and future outlook. To sum up, Japan Pavilion is combined by history and technology.
 
 
 
Theme: Mountain, Water, Heart and Lantern


Location: Within Zone A of the Expo Site




 
 
 
 
 
(Taiwan Pavilion)

Features:
The pavilion design is a transparent cube housing a giant ball in its center. It is mainly made of steel and glass, with the outlines of the island's Mount Morrison and Mount Ali painted on the facade. The main part of the pavilion was built with stone from Jade Mountain and soil from Yin-Ko Town. Taiwan will invite people to fly lanterns for good luck - a traditional island custom - and view its beautiful mountains and lakes at its pavilion. The pavilion showcases the island's scenery, its kind-hearted people and culture with the theme "Mountain, Water, Heart and Lantern." (From Official Website)

Highlight 1:
Movie about Taiwan's Culture and SceneryThe globe, 12 meters in diameter, houses a theater, where a four-minute movie about Taiwan's culture and scenery will be shown. The globe doubles as a screen to show the island's landscapes. (From Official Website)


Highlight 2:
Lantern-flying Ceremony The globe will be suspended over a pool of water, which will reflect the images shown on the globe. Visitors will be invited to take part in a multimedia lantern-flying ceremony on a platform above the pool. If 40 people make a ring on the platform, each of them will trigger a beam that will light the globe. (From Official Website)











Although Taiwan Pavilion is not as big as others, it still attracts many visitors to take a look on it. I think the pavilion is really attractive because people do not need to go into the building but can watch the pictures on the LED screen outside. Moreover, Taiwan Pavilion is not very huge so it takes people much time to wait for entering in. However, the huge LED screen solves the problem. Taiwan is not very strong, but it contains many kinds of cultures and features which are totally showed to people.







References: http://en.expo2010.cn/