Wolfgang Buttress’ United Kingdom Pavilion at Milan EXPO 2015

Wolfgang Buttress’ United Kingdom Pavilion at Milan EXPO 2015

The United Kingdom’s participation at EXPO Milan 2015, entitled Grown in Britain: Shared Globally is aimed to improve the awareness of the impact of food production and consumption on people’s everyday life worldwide. Food politics and decisions contribute to the wellness and health of every person, but those made in industrialized countries also have an influence on the availability of food in emerging ones.

The pavilion of the United Kingdom presents innovations related to every aspect of the food chain, from seed to dish, from fields to tables. The subjects covered include agricultural technologies, nutritional safety, food and beverages, functional food, logistics, global markets, and international projects. The objective is to invite to promote the debate on food safety and knowledge in local communities, schools, and universities as well as to encourage responsible and equitable food consumption.

The design of the pavilion is inspired by the unique function that apiaries have in our ecosystem and adopts this metaphor to express the concept behind the participation of the United Kingdom at the Expo.
On a total surface of 1,910 square meters, the pavilion, designed by Wolfgang Buttress after winning an architectural competition and realized by Stage One and Rise, is composed of a trail surrounded by a series of planters filled with grass and flowers, symbolizing a meadow, at the end of which a spectacular hive-like metal structure receives the visitors; this surprising latticework accommodates a viewing platform, a LED-base lighting system, and audiovisual equipment. Surrounded by real-bee sounds and buzzes the public grasp the essence of the pavilion which, actually, tells us how the combination of nature, art, and technology could be the solution for a sustainable future for all of us.

Photos © Inexhibit, 2015 All rights reserved