The historical event has exposed people around the world to the fascinating inventions of the time, such as the elevator (1854 New York), the phone (1878 Paris), the Ferris wheel and zipper (1893 Chicago), the electric ice cream cone (1904 St. Louis) as well as the television model (1939 New York), and that mobile telephone (1970 Osaka).

Although this year’s Expo didn’t bring any breakthrough technology, the concept of connecting minds and making tomorrow’s future’ was evident across every pavilion and the common spaces.

Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to be staged in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. It also broke records by being the first year that every country participated in a pavilion. 191 countries in all.

American HOK, a firm from the United States, created a master plan of over 1,000 acres. HOK was split into three zones – opportunities, sustainability, and mobility. The three zones were formed in a petal shape interspersed with plazas, pedestrian walkways, and much more. The design is clustered into the central plaza, which is called Al Wasl, the historic Arab name of Dubai, which translates to “the connection.”

2020 World Expo’s Centerpiece

(this is the Eiffel Tower this year (or Space Needle)

Since the initial Expo, which took place in the year 1851, recognizable architecture has been a key tenant, such as the Crystal Palace built in London that year.

The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for the Grand International Exhibition of 1851. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Since its inception, this World’s Expo has been the location for iconic landmarks across the globe, like The Eiffel Tower, Seattle’s Space Needle as well as the Krizikova Fountain in Prague.

In preparation for Expo 2020, the Al Wasl plaza has been transformed into a tower 150 meters in diameter, designed to be the main hub of performance space, which restaurants, fountains, and parks surround.

The spherical area is an experience to behold, and due to its translucent material, it is a perfect match to the sky at any of the varying times between sunrise and sunset.

It also functions as a symbiosis 360-degree projection, the biggest ever seen. At the Expo, there will be regular performances that celebrate the space age, Emirati culture, nature, global unity, and more.

TERRA: Sustainability Pavilion

The funnel-shaped canopy that covers the main part of the entire pavilion is adorned by solar panels, which power a large portion of the exhibition. The shape also absorbs rainwater, shading the surrounding landscape, which is built into the ground to keep the temperature cool. A short hike trail runs around the rim and offers stunning views as well as relaxing alcoves set in natural landscape. The structure is planned to be a LEED Platinum-certified structure and be a Net-zero Energy facility.

The smaller solar “trees” surround the site, which move in the sun’s direction. Under the surface, the “roots” monitor the weather and humidity to determine what amount of water is required for the surrounding landscape, which can save as much as 70% in irrigation water.

Country Pavilion: United Arab Emirates

The scale of this structure is massive, as you can observe when trying to capture full-length photos of it. The winged design is intended to symbolize the power of the falcon, which is very important to the nation and its inhabitants.

The wings flap out when the sun rises. They show solar panels, which move to the sun’s rays for maximum power. In the evening, you are able to see the wings closed, waiting for the dawn of a new day.

Country Pavilion: United Kingdom

The UK pavilion cuts through the sky using its cross-laminated wood structure, with an international message at the bottom of every piece. Inspired by Stephen Hawking’s most recent work, “Breakthrough Message,” visitors are asked to answer, “If you had a conversation with someone from space, How would you describe Earth in a few sentences?’. AI creates poems based on visitor submissions, which rotate every few minutes.

Country Pavilion: Italy

The most impressive exhibit (that was difficult to capture in one photograph), the Italian pavilion, features a roof covered with a trio of huge boat hulls. The long ropes hang from every side and are constructed from recycled plastic, too.

This was intended to show the effectiveness of utilizing existing materials for construction, a key concept for the future of the sustainability of our built environment.

Country Pavilion: Luxembourg

Country Pavilion: Luxembourg

The unique design resembles Mobius Strip, the spiraling geometry of a single building with no beginning or ending. Fun fact: Luxembourg had been the primary supplier of glass and steel, which made up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, located in the city center of Dubai.

Country Pavilion: Morocco

The construction block structure of Morocco is constructed from rammed earth, an ancient material that may prove useful in sustainable efforts by it is an alternative to concrete or steel.

Inside the six-story structure, the ramp continues upwards and down to mirror the streetscapes in Moroccan medinas.

Country Pavilion: Singapore

It’s appropriate for Singapore to have its pavilion with no distinct line that defines the natural and built environment.

The greenery encapsulates the outside and the inside in a 3-dimensional experience. There are 80,000 plants of 170 different species.

And to top it off to top it off, the forests are powered by an ecosystem that is self-sustaining with zero energy generated.

(It is worth noting, in case you haven’t before, that we weren’t permitted to visit several pavilions. The last day of the Expo was fast-paced and massive crowds — as high as 500,000 in one day! This made it difficult to really experience what was on display. At the end of this article, we’ve provided an online Expo they put up that lets you explore the insides and outsides of each pavilion. )

Country Pavilion: Pakistan

The Pakistan pavilion is an illustration of how architecture can become an art. Famous artist Rashid Rana transforms the pavilion by using 24,000 crystals of glass that are marginally different in terms of size and shape.

The work, Unity of All that appears, is a vibrant display of optical illusions that blend in harmony. The design is meant to show Pakistan’s enormous “diversity it has to offer — geographically, climatically, culturally, ethnically and racially” Rana. Rana.

Honorable mention: Bahrain’s steel-like, cubic structure was a masterpiece, particularly juxtaposed against Pakistan. Kudos to those who put this pair together.