Pavilion France, 2015 Milan Expo - The project Matrix 1

June 30, 2019

Architectural Precedent

Pavilion France, 2015 Milan Expo.

Key concept

France Pavilion in 2015 Milan Expo can be simply regarded as agricultural wooden building in a reversed landscape shape. This contorted ceiling abstractly described the natural terrain of France. All crops are planted on the ceiling, the huge free-standing space and several entrances under the roof allows people to access from every direction.

First of all, the theme of Milan Expo in 2015 was “Feeding the Planet, Energy for life”. Because of that, the geological diversity of France’s food identity inspirited those architects from X-TU, they considered that those natural resources shaped the landscape, climate regions, the method people use the land, other cultural products and cuisine in France. Also when talked about this theme, XTU mentioned that terrain as abundant land for the food revolution, with a building that represents the expectation of France’s regions. Based on that, the whole design took the Halles de Baltard market (Les Halles was redesigned in the 1850s by Victor Baltard. It used to be a sign of Paris, a large food market, also called Belly of Paris) as the reference. XTU proposed their concept, the junction of all agricultural products chain – a covered food market.

This Pavilion was inspirited by France’s hexagonal shape, and deformed by evocative ripples at the same time. For attracting visitors, Architects used the ‘pull factor’ for inviting people to approach to this building and bringing a fully immersive feeling for visitors.

Selected design element

The design element of the France Pavilion in 2015 Milan Expo, can be claimed in several aspects, free form, wooden structure and scenery design.

About the wooden structure, some columns which designed in trunk shape support the whole farmland ceiling and interior space, functional rooms and paths. In addition, this building is not like the general food market, the most agricultural products are displayed in booths, and diverse crops showed on the ceiling. Those different crops features the theme of each part in this pavilion. All spaces of this building defined by food. And for structure, all materials are French wood, spruce and larch. Each building elements, from main structure to supporting columns, ceiling to floor, is made up of interlocked pieces, and built in a unified form. Also the structural parts traced the exterior curve and interior outline in the same time. The main structure is lattice girders and pillars. Basically, XTU architects used wooden structure to present the shape and main concept of the whole building. They didn’t apply any advanced technologies for this pavilion, they just use low-tech to finish all connections and the whole building are easy to be taken parts at the same time.

Eventually, the whole design elements can be claimed into several words, curves of landscape in France, wooden structure, and flexible inside space. For the physical model, the whole structure, façade, and inside space will be rebuild at 1:300 size. Because the entire building is a good example which is structure of the building present its façade and the whole shape. For some small public buildings, this interspersed structure can express a lot, and it makes the building shape have more possibilities.

How is the key concept reflected in the design studio?

First of all, the key concept of this design is presenting France landscape by building form, and using crops to define functions of inside spaces. The wooden structure they used is basic but reflected their concept well, and also matching to the theme of the Expo. And the façade, structure and shape are fused together in this building. For public buildings, this method of presenting design concept is important. Moreover, this structure is simple but can express more curved buildings. If I will enroll in urban condition studio in the final year or participate in public building design at work, this structure can be used to divide indoors or fill some external structures. Meanwhile, its material selection is environmental friendly and can be used twice.

Geometrical description of the shape.

Because this building is the exhibition building of Expo Milan 2015, the size of this building is generally not large. According to the plan and elevations, the whole building is Height: 12m, Width: 25m, Length: 45m. And it is a 3 stories building. For the dimension of this exhibition building, 1:200 is an approximate dimension for the physical model. Basically, this model will all use wood board and laser cut. First of all, splicing each piece of cut wood, like waffle model, for making the entire shape of the model. After finishing the connection of internal space, put them into the model finished in the first part according to the plan.