THE PUBLIC SQUARE REIMAGINED
25 Oct 2018
Featuring a bright yellow inflatable canopy of cylinders set within a steel frame, Selgascano and FRPO’s proposal for Spain’s pavilion for EXPO 2020 Dubai could be the most ambitious one yet. The design seeks to reinvent the idea of the public square, with a ‘breathing pavilion’ that responds to the surrounding environment to create a thriving public space.
Selgascano and FRPO’s pavilion design proposal has been announced as a finalist in the competition for Spain’s EXPO 2020 Pavilion. The design features a canopy of nine, inflatable cylinders over two layers of public space. The cylinders are the key component of the design, constructed from extremely light and sustainable materials that enable the structure to be easily moved and transported as needed. The cylinders are an architectural marvel as they respond to the surrounding views, light and weather, and will move accordingly to provide a one-of-a-kind public space experience.
The design seeks to reinvent the typical Spanish plaza and features an elevated public space that is situated underneath the bright yellow cylinders. The space allows for diverse programming and installations as well as activities to engage visitors. A key element of the pavilion is the idea of the traditional Spanish square’s connection to water. The pavilion acknowledges “water contained, conducted and recirculated; never wasted,” according to the designers. “The Plaza is marked with three areas of native vegetation and moving water that act as a small oasis. These zones help temper the heat and act as a source of shade and life.”
The pavilion will include a restaurant on the rooftop and a tapas bar that extends onto a terrace, which will merge into the square allowing for a range of activities and events to be held. The bathrooms, stairs, elevators and offices will be grouped together, and a spiral staircase will lead up to the roof where the restaurant is located.
When visitors enter the pavilion, they are led up to the plaza via a patio-garden that features a wide variety of greenery and fauna that frames the walkway to a shaded space. An audio-visual projection will flow along the perimeter. The route ends at the Exposition Gallery, which features natural light filtering through the space and a landscaped patio that includes a stream of water that can be opened or closed according to the needs of the space. A gift shop features at the gallery’s exit and leads out to another garden that includes a multipurpose space and the spiral staircase.
Beneath the square is space for exhibitions and leisure and activity programs.
The overall design concept of the pavilion focuses on sustainability as it is designed to be completely sustainable and emit zero carbon emissions, thanks to 1000 square metres of rooftop photovoltaic panels and the inflatable deck that is constructed of more than 80 percent certified recycled material.
The cylinders enable natural thermal conditioning, allowing for the shaded public space to adapt to the humid Dubai climate without wasting excessive power. This conditioning is further enhanced by the system of large fans below that will encourage the cool air to move through the space.
The pavilion is divided into two subsystems: the roof and the slab. A mixed system has been developed for the slab, utilising cylindrical steel pillars and curved steel beams that offer flexibility, lightness and ease of assembly and disassembly. The structural roof subsystem is linked to the inflatable roof. Cables are anchored across the building’s perimeter and a bracing frame has been created for pillars that are unable to connect with the larger support system.
This design choice allows for the pavilion to be easily moved after the EXPO and used in different contexts, thus ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Selgascano and FRPO hope that the Pavilion will act as a unique icon at the EXPO, capturing the attention of visitors and offering unexpected experiences. It is hoped that the design would allow for Spain’s reputation to be reinforced as a country that prioritises creativity and innovation, and creates a unique outlook on the idea of public spaces.