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The Kuwait Pavilion, designed by Italian architect Italo Rota, tells the story of a country surrounded by the sand of the desert and the saltwater of the sea, where potable water is a hidden treasure. It showcases how the Kuwaitis are making the desert more habitable by the use of education, technology, science and, where possible, sustainable energy to build a society that is modern, alive and ambitious – and therefore capable of contributing to global development and to feeding the world.

The architecture of the pavilion is inspired by the typical sailboat from Kuwait, the “Dhow” that is still in use in the Arabic Gulf, and by greenhouse shapes, with some reference to the agriculture system of Kuwait. The Pavilion covers app. 2.790 square metres and is situated at the north of Decumano. 

The pavilion offers a fascinating view of the territory of Kuwait, its culture, its human and natural resources. It is the desert that welcomes visitors, who after a long promenade arrive at the event area where they are immersed in landscapes recreated by 360 degree projection.

From the canyon where the water plays with the rocks, you arrive in the heart of the pavilion, a huge glass model which recounts the history of the area. It is taking visitors on a tour inside its "small fortress" (this is the meaning of the Arabic word from which Kuwait takes its name), from the different types of desert to the sea that washes the shores. Its highly scenic elements embody principles of recouping and saving natural energies. Surrounded by hydroponics outside (tomatoes, strawberries, salads), the largest space, used for dining and refreshment, is coloured by the typical elements of the Arab souk and by a large central fire, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the flavours of the Middle East.

 

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Project: Mexican Pavilion

Location: Milan, Italy

Architects: Francisco López Guerra Almada, Mexico City, Mexico

Technical info: PVC/PES mesh and ETFE

Picture credits: Pygmalion Karatzas

Website: www.expo2015.org