I Went to Dubai Expo (EXPO 2020 Dubai) [Part 2] – 3 Inspiring Pavilions
Introduction
Continuing from Part 1, the report from our SUNNY SIDE UP investigation team continues…Click here for Part 1!
I Went to Dubai Expo (EXPO 2020 Dubai) [Part 1] – What is Dubai Expo?
In Part 1, we introduced basic information about the Expo, Dubai Expo, and the Japan Pavilion. In Part 2, we will report on pavilions other than the Japan Pavilion, as well as Expo cuisine!
■ Expo/Dubai Cuisine – A Paradise Where You Can Enjoy World Cuisine All in One Place
■ 3 Inspiring Pavilions
■ Dubai Expo Introduction – Extra Edition
■ The Next Expo is…
■ A Little Bit of Dubai City Sightseeing…
Expo/Dubai Cuisine – A Paradise Where You Can Enjoy World Cuisine All in One Place
On the first day, we were so absorbed in visiting pavilions that we suddenly realized it was late afternoon. We took a break and had a drink at a restaurant inside the nearby New Zealand Pavilion (this was also part of our inspection).
In the evening, we were tired from walking, so we ate curry and naan at a restaurant in a mall near our hotel. Looking back at the photos later, I was disappointed by my lack of photography skills.
On the second day, we had lunch at an African dining establishment inside the Expo grounds to refuel. The cheerful staff and the glowing yellow drink revitalized our tired bodies.
On the third day, the dining areas inside the Expo grounds were either crowded or reserved for groups, so after wandering around looking for an available spot, we settled on Chinese food. Our hearts briefly danced at the sight of a buffet, but with fewer than 10 menu options and mostly brown-colored dishes, our enthusiasm cooled…
For dinner, we went into the city and entered a moody restaurant with an international atmosphere. It was Arabic cuisine, likely kebab (roasted) meat and biryani (pilaf) rice. Due to Islamic dietary practices, we frequently ate chicken and lamb in Dubai.
Every morning, the hotel breakfast was buffet-style like this, so we could enjoy delicious meals without getting bored and fuel up for the demanding inspection ahead.
Team member Kameyama, who emphasizes his fatigue so much, had walked only about 60,000 steps in the past month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Dubai inspection, we walked extensively across the vast Expo grounds, covering approximately 15,000 to 30,000 steps per day. In just these 5 days of inspection, we walked more than 1.5 months’ worth of our life in Japan.From the first day, we experienced tremendous fatigue, with foot pain starting in the morning, but all the meals in Dubai were delicious and became a source of power to endure the exhaustion and pain.
The fact that even someone like me, a Japanese person with many food preferences, enjoyed the cuisine may be due to the characteristics of the UAE as a country.Approximately 90% of UAE residents are foreigners. Because it is a country where people of all races live, many food cultures intersect, creating cuisine that is palatable even to first-time foreign visitors.
3 Inspiring Pavilions
While the Japan Pavilion is our top choice, we introduced it in Part 1, so we will present three other pavilions here.
[No.1 Pavilion] Morocco Pavilion
A pavilion skillfully designed from the exterior architecture to the exhibition content and display methods
First, the exterior. This building made of overlapping cubes has an unusual design that catches the eye.
This 7-8 story pavilion is designed so that visitors take an elevator to the top floor and enjoy the exhibits while descending. The descent is via slopes, making it relatively easy for people with strollers or wheelchairs. The rooftop is open-air.
In this room, the lights changed between red, green, and blue, with the exhibition content appearing different depending on the light color—a clever design.
The view looking down from the upper floors differs from the view looking up from the lower floors. The design of descending from top to bottom and this architectural concept allow visitors to enjoy viewing the same exhibits from different perspectives.
Throughout the pavilion, interactive features are incorporated where visitor actions create movement in the exhibits. These touches made the pavilion memorable.
After completing the exhibition tour, visitors arrive at a central plaza. Events such as live performances were likely held here.
I was impressed by the architectural design that considered everything from the magnificent exterior to the exhibition content and format, and I have selected it as the No.1 Pavilion. I was so intrigued by whether they designed what could be done based on the exterior (box) or built the exterior working backward from the content that I wanted to ask the designer. It was a pavilion that sparked great interest.
[No.2 Pavilion] UAE Pavilion
An exceptionally large pavilion befitting the host country
It’s so massive that it doesn’t fit in the photo (well, I’m just bad at taking pictures).
First, there is an exhibition depicting the desert. The desert is one of Dubai’s tourism resources. There are even desert tourism tours called Desert Safari, and Dubai souvenir stuffed animals are camels.Projection mapping is used on desert mountains for the exhibition, and at the entrance, there were the words “Welcome to the Desert of Dreams.” The first half of the exhibition focuses on Dubai’s history and the desert era.
Incidentally, what appears at the edge of the photo is “Alif,” the official mascot of Dubai Expo. There are three official mascot characters corresponding to the three sub-themes.
Alif: Guardian of the Mobility Pavilion
Opti: Guardian of the Opportunity Pavilion
Terra: Guardian of the Sustainability Pavilion
The exhibition features transparent glass columns filled with sand, onto which images are projected.On the way to the next exhibition space, there were digital signage displays likely related to the development of cities from the UAE’s desert.
The next room is set up like a mini theater, where visitors sit and watch a 3-minute animated film. The content depicts how Dubai developed from a desert into a place with culture and industry.After leaving the mini theater, the scene changes dramatically from darkness to a pure white world.
The final exhibition introduces the UAE’s present (likely advanced technology and such).
The exhibition method utilizing the massive space and the story format dividing the front and back halves to show the development of civilization from the desert were impressive. The UAE is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a nation and has a short history. With half of Dubai’s land still desert, the trajectory of such rapid economic development in this country made for a fascinating story.
[No.3 Pavilion] Netherlands Pavilion
Even a medium-sized pavilion ranks high with its stylish exhibition methods!
The exterior looks like this—rather subdued and not particularly memorable compared to other pavilions.
Inside, these triangular mountains stand out. The Netherlands isan agricultural powerhouse, and I believe this represents the sustainable relationship between “water, energy, and food production.” Mushrooms are one of their specialty products, and they appear to be utilized in creating this space.
Inside the mountain, visitors are handed white umbrellas and watch a video.
After viewing, visitors move to the center of the mountain and are instructed to open their umbrellas. Then, light pours down from above and images flow. What a stylish viewing experience—watching images projected through a white umbrella!The Netherlands’ climate is characterized by weather that changes frequently throughout the day and high rainfall. This presentation likely reflects those characteristics.
After viewing, there is a merchandise sales area.
The Netherlands Pavilion is a medium-sized pavilion with a very simple structure, but the viewing experience of its singular content (video) featured an interesting presentation with Dutch character. While many other pavilions used similar methods such as digital signage projection and panel displays, this unique exhibition method left a very strong impression.
Dubai Expo Introduction – Extra Edition
Observation Tower Overlooking the Grounds (Garden in the Sky)
This 55-meter-high observation tower slowly ascends from the ground while rotating 360°. Located near the center of the grounds, it offers a wide view of the venue. What appeared as giant pavilions from the ground look small from above (well, they’re still large even from above).
Waterfall Plaza (Surreal)
Since everything is on a different scale, there are photo-worthy elements everywhere, but the premier Instagram spot is the Waterfall Plaza. Surrounded 360° by a 14-meter-high artificial waterfall wall, international influencers post videos on social media of themselves cooling off here with their feet in the water.
Solar Panels That Also Serve as Rest Areas?
These are likely solar panels, but it was a wonderful idea that they not only appeal to SDGs action but also simultaneously provide consideration for Expo visitors. Simply installing rest areas or solar panels would be uninteresting, so this idea combines both. Depending on the time, they also provide shade from Dubai’s strong sunlight, making this a wonderful space that considers heatstroke prevention.
Mysterious Tower Near the Women’s Pavilion?
There was a particularly prominent tower. Upon approaching, notes were attached, and reading one comment, it said, “As a to-do, we must avoid using plastic because it harms the environment.” Visitors likely left these comments, and it’s interesting to have a place where people can leave opinions about SDGs.
JANAT Exhibition Booth
JANAT, a French tea brand that has many fans at our company and is always stocked in our Central Kitchen, also had a booth at Dubai Expo. Cold, delicious tea is essential in the hot venue! In Japan, there is a tea room in Omotesando, so if you’re interested, please visit.
The Next Expo is…
As a reminder, the next Expo will be held in 2025, the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”
Sub-themes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, Connecting Lives
Concept: -People’s Living Lab- An Experimental Ground for Future Society
Location: Yumeshima, Osaka
This will be the second Expo held in Osaka, following the 1970 Expo. Those who participated back then may be able to participate again in the same Osaka. Having witnessed the magnificence of Dubai firsthand, I left Dubai with the dream that Japan’s hosting should not fall behind and that I hope to be involved in some way.
This concludes our Dubai Expo report!
A Little Bit of Dubai City Sightseeing…
At the end of Part 2, we did a bit of sightseeing in Dubai city, so we’ll share some of that with you.
・Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
Please look forward to future blog posts and posts from other members! (Of course, if you’ve missed any past articles, please be sure to check them out!!)
