Case Name: Bologna: Creativity & Inclusion In The City
Location: Shanghai Expo Park Zone E, Pavilion B3
Square Meter: 406 M2
Exhibition Field: Livable Cities
front view of the case
top view of the case
side view of the case
the city gate
the square
streets
the tower, a historical symbol of the city
the bicycle
the portico
Ignasi Cardelus, an official with Barcelona City, offers Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the design of Barcelona's UBPA plans.
Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, delivers a speech.
Ignasi Cardelus, Councillor for International Relations of Barcelona City Council, delivers a speech.
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
Barcelona will share its experience in setting up a new district while protecting its historic city center at the Urban Best Practices Area at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the Spanish city announced yesterday while unveiling its Expo plans.
In the 1980s the Barcelona government preserved more than 100 historic buildings in its Ciutat Vella district to keep its medieval feel, while at the same time improving the lives of residents.
It also turned the neighboring Poblenou district into a high-tech park and business center that has attracted global investment, said Ignasi Cardelus, Councillor for International Relations of Barcelona City Council.
The pavilion consists of a 60-meter long corridor covered in mirrors, housing five cubes which can be used as light sources or video screens showing films about Barcelona's landscape and people's daily lives.
The corridor, mirrors and cubes should make the pavilion look like an endless audio-visual experience, said Diego Sebastian, technical director of the pavilion.
The pavilion's ceiling will show the Barcelona sky live via satellite. A screen at the end of the pavilion will show Barcelona's sunrise and sunset.
The pavilion will also offer authentic food from the city and singers will give performances.
A ceremony was held as Cardelus handed the design of Barcelona's UBPA cases to Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.
Guim Valls from Barcelona also attended the ceremony. Valls plans to cycle around the world, starting in Beijing. He wants to promote environmental protection and he will pass Shanghai at some point during Expo 2010.
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
an artist's rendition of the pavilion
an artist's rendition of the Romania Pavilion
an artist's rendition of the Romania Pavilion
Romania's national pavilion at Shanghai 2010 World Expo will take the shape of a green apple in its focus on a "green city" concept.
The pavilion will cover 2,000 square meters and its apple shape and logo "Greenopolis" reflect the importance of healthy lifestyle, sustainable development and knowledge-based solutions for modern society, Romanian officials said.
Romania tries to highlight a city's historical and cultural heritage in order to understand, develop and translate this wisdom into a better quality of life for contemporary urban Romanian citizens, officials said.
An open tender for construction of the building has been launched.
Bernard Pierre, Belgian Ambassador to China, delivers a speech.
Leo Delcroix, Belgium's commissioner general for Expo 2010, gives a speech.
Officials unveil a model of the Belgian Pavilion.
The Belgian Pavilion will give away diamonds to lucky 2010 Expo visitors, Leo Delcroix, the country's commissioner general for the Expo, said yesterday after unveiling the design of the pavilion, which will also house the European Union exhibition.
The pavilion will be a 5,250-square-meter rectangle with a huge "brain cell" as the centerpiece. Visitors will enter the pavilion via a vein of the "brain."
Belgium will also highlight the concept of "green economy" at the 2010 Expo.
The EU will have a 1,000-square-meter exhibition space on the ground floor of the two-story pavilion. It will use multimedia to showcase European cities.
Each week of the Expo, organizers will give away a Belgian diamond to a visitor, drawn by lottery, Delcroix said.
For a chance to win, visitors will have to text the correct answers to questions about Belgium, according to Delcroix.
an artist's rendition of the Belgian Pavilion
an artist's rendition of the Belgian Pavilion
The pavilion will also have a daily draw for a five-day tour to the country.
Diamond shows for charity purposes are also on the agenda, Delcroix disclosed, adding that there will also be a chocolate factory in the pavilion, where visitors can taste Belgian chocolate and see the manufacturing process.
The "brain cell" structure reflects the artistic richness of Belgium and Europe, as well as the scientific achievements which contribute to the development and enrichment of cultural and intellectual inheritance.
The exterior of the pavilion will feature a transparent glass facade and three covered facades made from stretched metal plates.
Ian McCartney, the United Kingdom's commissioner general for the Expo, hands over the participation documents in Expo Shanghai Online to Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.
Ian McCartney, the United Kingdom's commissioner general for the Expo, delivers a speech.
Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, meets Ian McCartney, the United Kingdom's commissioner general for the Expo.
an artist's rendition of the UK Pavilion (day-time)
an artist's rendition of the UK Pavilion (night-time)
The United Kingdom will build a virtual pavilion to match its real pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
The country yesterday signed a contract with the Expo organizer to participate in Expo Shanghai Online, a Shanghai Expo innovation that will provide virtual visits to the Expo on the internet.
Expo Shanghai Online will offer visitors a virtual tour of the Expo pavilions in Shanghai.
The UK Pavilion will look like a huge "light box" with thousands of needle-like protrusions which will extend from the structure and quiver in the breeze.
During the day, each of these 7.5-meter long rods will act like fibre optic filaments, drawing on daylight to illuminate the interior, thereby creating a contemplative awe-inspiring space. At night, light sources at the interior end of each rod will allow the whole structure to glow.
Britain will also embed more than 60,000 seeds into the structure of its pavilion to urge people to protect natural species from extinction.
The seeds demonstrate the concept of sustainability, the diversity of nature and urge people to protect the environment for future generations, said Carma Elliot, British consul general in Shanghai.
The UK team is choosing seeds for the pavilion from a seed bank in Kunming, Yunnan Province, which is the Chinese branch of the project, Elliot said, adding they are still considering how to use the seeds after the Expo ends.
The 6,000-square-meter structure is one of the largest pavilions at the Expo.
The six-story structure is a huge gift box from the UK to China, said Ian McCartney, the country's commissioner general for the Expo.
Inside the pavilion there will be an exhibition about "bringing nature back into the city."
Construction on the pavilion began in March.
scene of the meeting
Pertti Huitu, Finland's commissioner general for World Expo 2010, met Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, and discussed the country's pavilion today.
Huitu and Matti Heimonen, Consul General of Finland in Shanghai, expressed the country's hope that the Finland Pavilion "Kirnu" could be preserved as an exhibition center, an art center, or a museum for cultural exchanges after the Expo.
The 3,000-square-meter Finnish Pavilion "Kirnu" has the slogan "Sharing Inspiration." The pavilion will resemble a huge white kettle floating on water. Well-being, competence and environment are the three key words of the Finnish showcase.
Expo officials have a talk with Robert Gregory, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI).
Delegation members meet Wayne McCook, under-secretary of trade in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Jamaica.
The World Expo 2010 organizer visited Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica, early this month to discuss the country's preparations for the event.
Jamaica will present a display at a joint pavilion for member countries of the Caribbean Community. Expo officials had a talk with Robert Gregory, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) which is Jamaica's investment and export promotion agency.
Gregory said different cultures of Caribbean countries are interrelated, but at the same time, have their own distinctions. He expected the organizer to keep frequent consultations with JTI, which is responsible for the country's Expo 2010 participation.
The delegation also met Wayne McCook, under-secretary of trade in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Jamaica. Jamaica's former ambassador to China said the country is committed to a splendid display.
Jamaica also hopes to stage some reggae music performances at the Expo.
scene of the contract signing ceremony
Philippe Le Gall, Seychelles Ambassador to China as well as the country's commissioner general for Expo 2010, gives a speech.
Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, gives a speech.
Aldabra Tortoise
The Seychelles government today signed a contract with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to present two giant Aldabra Tortoises, one of the largest tortoises in the world, to the 2010 Expo.
The rare tortoises will be presented to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China this year and Shanghai's hosting of the Expo next year.
The tortoises will be raised at the Shanghai Zoo, Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said at the signing ceremony.
The gift is a sign of the supreme friendship between Seychelles and China, said Philippe Le Gall, Seychelles Ambassador to China as well as the country's commissioner general for Expo 2010. He appreciated China's financial assistance to help developing countries participate in the 2010 Expo.
Aldabra Tortoises symbolize power, health and longevity in Seychelles, Le Gall said.
The tortoise's upper shell averages 120 centimeters in length. The average weight of an adult male is around 250 kilograms. Large tortoises are among the longest-living species on the planet. The longest known life span of an Aldabra Tortoise is 255 years.
Officials unveil Russia Pavilion design.
an artist's rendition of the Russia Pavilion
Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, gives a speech.
Vladimir Strashko, Russia's commission general for the Expo, delivers a speech.
Russia will decorate its pavilion for the 2010 World Expo like a fairy-tale world, showing a comfortable city as seen through children's eyes.
The country yesterday unveiled its pavilion design which will be on a 6,000-square-meter plot and feature 12 white towers inspired by traditional Russian women's costume.
The 20-meter towers, in white, red and gold, will duplicate the ancient Ural towns dating back 3,000 years ago, but given a modern touch with their irregular shapes. They demonstrate the diversity of both ancient and modern cities, said Vladimir Strashko, Russia's commission general for the Expo.
A 15-meter-tall central building will link the towers.
an artist's rendition of the Russia Pavilion (day-time)
an artist's rendition of the Russia Pavilion (night-time)
Inside the three-story building, there will be a display of scenes from the fairy tale "The Adventures of DUNNO and His Friends," written by children's author Nikolay Nosov.
The novel tells the story of Neznaika, a 15-year-old boy and his friends. They have journeys to some fantastic cities where cars are fueled by strawberry jam and huge cakes are used as houses.
Their adventures include three fictional cities: the City of Flowers, the City of Sun and the City of Moon, which will be the three main exhibition areas.
The walls of the pavilion will be painted in vivid colors and visitors can enter mushroom-shape houses just like in a fairy tale.
"People are always seeking the ideal city to live, and we think the most comfortable city in children's eyes is the most livable city," said Boris Krasnov, chief designer of the pavilion.
"We welcome children from across the world to visit our pavilion," he said.
The most advanced technologies that will lead to a better city will be exhibited in the fairy-tale setting and the achievements of Russian youth and young scientists will be highlighted.
The City of Flowers will exhibit environment-related technology. The City of Sun will showcase new clean energies. The City of Moon will focus on space exploration. Yury Gagarin's 1961 flight which made him the first man in space will be showcased.
Four of the 12 towers will be accessible to the public, with different Russian regions having showcases. The other towers will be VIP rooms or be closed for technical uses.
The pavilion theme is "New Russia: city and citizen."
Four families in Zhabei District have been selected for a pilot program to receive 2010 World Expo visitors.
Up to yesterday, 25 families had signed up to provide temporary hotel services for the event, according to Linfen Community in the district.
The selection of more families will start next month. The neighborhood committee will evaluate their facilities, education background and safety and sanitation conditions.
"We expect the home-stay families will have a bedroom of more than 13 square meters for the guests, with facilities such as air-conditioning, TV and a bathroom," said committee official Jiang Wenlei. "It will be better if they can provide a washing machine and broadband access."
Jiang said most of the households signing up to host home stays were elderly people because they usually had rooms available.
Language
Wu Guoxiang, a 58-year-old retired woman, and her husband are one of the four households selected. They have two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
"I think the only problem will be language," Wu said. "I can speak a little Russian, but not English. So I hope Expo volunteers can help me communicate."
The families will not only provide accommodation but also a taste of community culture. Wu is a big Chinese Yueju opera fan and hopes to perform in her costume for guests.
The Shanghai Tourism Administration said the city's hotels may not be able to accommodate all the 70 million visitors expected for the Expo. They estimate there will be a shortage of about 100,000 beds and hope more local families will receive visitors.
