Design in motion

The spectacular shiny metal and glass façade of the Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion is on track for its October debut. The fantastic, futuristic structure is being billed as one of the highlights of the upcoming Expo 2020 and is the work of British architect Gerard Evenden, Senior Executive Partner, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners.

- CATHERINE BELBIN

Evenden is a familiar Expo face, having been part of the team that designed the UAE’s pavilions for the Shanghai (2010) and Milan (2015) Expos.

This veteran architect has extensive knowledge of the UAE – he played a crucial role in the Masdar City development – and is brimming with enthusiasm when speaking to identity magazine about this latest feat of engineering and architecture.

“For the first time, we are now seeing how the stainless steel cladding is reacting to the daily cycle, from sunrise to sunset, and the different shading and movement that it creates. We wanted to create a building that appears to be moving,” Evenden says.

“Our challenge was to create the illusion of movement and mobility, so we used the analogy of the chrome fender or aircraft wing and wrapped the ribs of the building horizontally. As a result, when you move around the building, you perceive that everything happening around is moving.”

Evenden continues: “During the day, there’s going to be considerable movement as the sun moves around the structure – and then at night, thanks to all the reaction from lights, etc., the feeling of mobility will be even more apparent. Hopefully, it will be a genuinely mobile building. We are pleased with the progress so far.”

In the past, the Foster + Partners team has adapted its designs as the demands and objectives of the client changed, as Evenden recollects: “Halfway through the Shanghai Expo we were told that the Pavilion had to be moved, which brought unforeseen challenges. Fortunately, the UAE one for Milan was always designed to be transferred to the UAE.”