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Calatrava Designed Qatar Pavilion Opened at Dubai Expo 2020

Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava renowned for structures that make a striking impact on the visual senses unveiled the Qatar Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020.

The Qatar Pavilion is informed by the country’s coat of arms.

A curved wall to depict the traditional dhows, a gold sculptural monument that represents the swords and water bodies intercepting these forms attract visitors to the Qatar Pavilion at the Dubai Expo.  Each element at the pavilion is a representative form that have a function to perform and a story of the country’s success to narrate.

“The Qatar Pavilion pays tribute to the Coats of Arms of Qatar and captures the country’s tradition, successful present, and promising future. We are thrilled to announce its completion and unveil it to the public,” said Santiago Calatrava at the opening of the Pavilion.

The Qatar Pavilion’s design draws inspiration from the four elements represented on the Coat of Arms of Qatar; two crossed and curved swords, encompassing a dhow and Island with palm trees. The expressive form of the Pavilion eloquently combines and translates these cultural elements to capture movement, mobility, strength, and tradition.

A gold-coloured structure represents palm trees.

Covering an area of approximately 960 square meters, the Qatar Pavilion accommodates a total built-up area (BUA) of approximately 620 square meters. The intersecting structure of the main building ascends upwards to nearly 15 meters in height, with an adjacent sculptural monument rising to 20 meters in height.

The interior of the Qatar Pavilion consists of two main galleries and exhibition spaces, providing highly engaging, inclusive, and experiential environments for visitors. Once visitors enter the Qatar Pavilion, they are guided through an immersive experience that informs them about the past, present, and future of Qatar.

The interiors of the Qatar Pavilion showcase the hostory of the country.

EXPO 2020 Dubai, Qatar Pavilion, Architect Santiago Calatrava

In collaboration with the main contractor, ALEC FITOUT, the project’s Engineer of Record, Aurecon, and Omnium, the project’s Contract Managers, the Santiago Calatrava project team applied an integrated design and accelerated construction strategy for the Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020. The approach follows a non-linear, non-traditional design methodology that ensures an expedited project delivery timeline of just five months.

Galleries inside the pavilion provide information on Qatar’s rich history.

EXPO 2020 Dubai, Qatar Pavilion, Architect Santiago Calatrava

The Dubai World Expo 2020 is a six-month event showcasing architecture, global culture, and innovation that will bring together participants from 180 countries and six continents. It will include over 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organizations, corporations, and educational institutions. The theme of this year’s Expo, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” underscores how the modern world is interconnected and the need to generate sustainable solutions to global problems. The Expo is set to run from October 2021 to March 2022.

All Images Courtesy Calatrava

Photography © Palladium Photodesign / Oliver Schuh + Barbara Burg.