Projects

PAVILLON KASACHSTAN
STUTTGART ENGINEERING KNOW-HOW FOR THE MILAN EXPO 2015

The pavilion for the Republic of Kazakhstan at the world exhibition Expo 2015 in Milan presented some unusual tasks for the planners: The design had to reflect the image of the client’s country whilst simultaneously remaining flexible inside for a large number of demands. Furthermore, spatial characteristics of the construction site at the world exhibition required creative solutions during the building process because it was not permitted to traverse the borders of the L-shaped site, even during construction work. The combination of short construction time, highly versatile usage options, as well as the highest flexibility possible for facade design and building equipment required innovative solutions from the planners.

The organic shapes and details borrowed from nature made the pavilion a challenge for the structural engineers, who managed to master the difficulties perfectly and above all, rapidly –appropriate for the Expo!

ANTHONY DE TARANTO
MANAGING DIRECTOR GTP2 ARCHITEKTEN

Based on the presentation concept from the Republic of Kazakhstan and the shape of the site, the architects developed a two-storey building consisting of a round main structure and a connecting oblong entrance area. Visitors accessed the building at end of the oblong section and arrived in a pre-show room in which they received a taste of the subsequent attractions. Visitors then continued to the upper floor where an exhibition on agriculture and nutrition awaited them.  Finally they arrived at the core of the pavilion and the main-show orchestration.

The bearing structure of the building is a steel skeleton construction with standard rolled-steel sections radially aligned in the round main part. A thin floor slab connects the individual foundations and forms a stiff diaphragm which enables transfer of horizontal forces to the foundation soil. A domed roof formed by a steel gridshell covers the main show. A high value was placed set on sustainability in the selection of materials for the pavilion; approximately 70% of the material can be re-used when the pavilion is dismantled.

Client COMMITTEE FOR TRADE OF THE MINISTRY FOR ECONOMICS AND BUDGET PLANNING OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN, REPRESENTED BY J&G CONSULTORIA DE FERIAS S.L.
Architect GTP2 ARCHITEKTEN, DÜSSELDORF
Location EXPO MILAN, ITALY
Completion 2015
Service PRELIMINARY DESIGN TO BUILDING PERMISSION DESIGN
Up