With Ma Liang from the Expo Bureau calling it ‘The Olympic Games of economics, culture and technology’, Shanghai clearly has high hopes for Expo 2010. More than 190 countries are participating, making this the largest World Expo ever both in terms of participation and geography, with the event taking up a huge 5.28 square km. Unsurprisingly, it is also the most expensive Expo to date, but with 70 million visitors expected during it’s May to October opening, China’s largest city must be doing something right.

Due to the scale of this year’s event, there are some ambitious pavilions on display. Russia have used the Expo as an opportunity to predict how our world might look as it continues to urbanize, with a treetop city design, as well as a school-city on the shell of a tortoise, veering more into the fantasy realm. Other countries have used the opportunity in a more light-hearted manner, with Switzerland installing a roller coaster in their pavilion.

As hosts of Expo 2010, China has pushed the boat out on their pavilion, making it the largest of the event, towering over the rest of the site. Constructed using traditional Chinese construction methods, the pavilion remains true to the culture of the country whilst looking strikingly modern, thanks to its crisp lines and bold use of colour. The roof is constructed using traditional dougong – or brackets – a method which dates back over 2,000 years and was mostly implemented during the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC – 467 BC). The 56 brackets used in the distinctive roof represent ethnic minority groups in China and face north, east, south and west, representing the influence of Chinese culture throughout the world.

Inspired by the shape of the Oriental Crown, the three floors within the pavilion each provide different experiences based around the theme of China’s achievements in urban development from ancient times through to the present. This includes a focus on how China will tackle the environmental challenges facing the world, enabling it to have a more sustainable future that respects the traditional cultures of their past.

With this in mind, Shanghai has already planned a life for their pavilion beyond the end of Expo 2010, turning it into a museum for Chinese history and tradition. Whilst the interior of the building will explore the country’s past, the exterior will give a real example of how tradition can be combined with modern building methods to create bold, contemporary buildings that represent both the past and future of Chinese culture.

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