Expo Dubai 2020: The desert goes green.
Throughout history, Expos – also known as World Fairs – have been synonymous with groundbreaking and imaginative architectural creations. These events have given birth to iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Space Needle in Seattle. Dubai is now aspiring to leave a similar mark with the Middle East's inaugural Expo, which has been dedicated to sustainability from its commencement on October 1. The Store Makers - Middle East, responsible for supplying shop fittings for official stores and creating displays and retail systems for several pavilions including those of the US, Australia & multiple thematic pavillions, has been deeply involved in transforming Dubai Expo into an environmentally conscious celebration of culture and innovation.
Dubai holds the distinction of being the inaugural host of a World Expo in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. Originally slated for 2020 but postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai embraces the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future." Commencing on October 1, this event is anticipated to draw over 25 million visitors from across the globe during its six-month duration. A workforce of 50,000 individuals has contributed to assembling 192 national pavilions, and an additional 30,000 volunteers have been enlisted to extend a warm welcome to attendees. A unique facet of this Expo is that each participating nation will possess its own pavilion, with countries grouped not by geographic proximity but rather under Expo 2020's three focal sub-themes: 'Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability'.
Terra, meaning "planet earth," offers an immersive expedition through the marvels of the natural world. It includes an interactive stroll through the forest's root system, where each step influences the 'wood-wide-web,' a term derived from the trees' communication via roots and fungal threads. The pavilion employs state-of-the-art methods to conserve water, recycle it, and tap into alternative water sources. Expo 2020 Dubai, like its predecessors, has attracted exceptional architectural talents from around the globe to design the national pavilions. With each nation striving to captivate visitors with the most visually striking and technologically advanced structures, many have enlisted top architectural firms for their pavilion designs. Noteworthy examples include the pavilions of Australia and the United States.
Within the US pavilion, a colossal SpaceX rocket model will be showcased. This replica, towering at 43 meters in height, depicts a Falcon 9 booster, a vehicle that NASA, the US space agency, has utilized for three distinct missions – a test flight, Crew 1, and Crew 2 – all destined for the International Space Station. This mock-up will be among the array of space-themed exhibitions featured within the pavilion.
Brisbane-based architectural firm bureau^proberts successfully completed the construction of the prominent Australian pavilion. This pavilion aims to spotlight Australia's "diversity, ingenuity, and contributions across 60,000 years of innovation." A striking roof design, seemingly suspended, takes center stage, drawing inspiration from cumulus clouds, which are emblematic of the diverse Australian landscape.
“For example, our Steel Wood Density Board (SDB) is 100% recycled from wooden waste from construction sites. It is very durable and strong material,” says Fallmann. “The materials will be used at Expo and then either rented out for further contracts or shredded, compounded and recycled once again, to be reused once more. This, plus our close vicinity to Expo to simplify logistics and the use of local raw materials was very important in winning the contracts.”
Another umdasch product taking center stage at the Expo is Varitable, a multifunctional table available in two fundamental base models and offering various display alternatives. Fallmann further explains that Varitable is a modular table series designed to cater to all product ranges in the retail sector, permitting combinations with individual components or electric enhancements.
Furthermore, Expo 2020 Dubai is extensively utilizing Basixx, a shopfitting foundation that supports modular shopfitting systems adaptable to diverse retail sectors. Basixxfresh, a variant of this system, plays a crucial role for grocery retailers, providing a robust shelving solution with ample flexibility for merchandise arrangement.
Crucially, the Store Makers are committed to a sustainable approach, ensuring that all items supplied for Expo 2020 Dubai will be repurposed or recycled after the event. This underscores the company's dedication to contributing to the event's aspiration of becoming the most environmentally responsible in history.
