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Geometric and elegant Polish Pavilion at Expo Milan 2015 features an exceptional façade made of thousands recycled apple crates. Expo’s fourth biggest pavilion built on a rectangular plot of 2,370 sq.m., and developed by the Warsaw office 2pm studio under the leadership of the chief architect Piotr Musialowski is a great example of a straightforward yet highly appealing design. Pavilion’s humble and at the same moment evocative patterned exterior is a good magnet for visitors to explore Poland’s latest achievements in the agri-food sector, considered to be the country’s specialty.
Geometric and elegant Polish Pavilion at Expo Milan 2015 features an exceptional façade made of thousands recycled apple crates. Expo’s fourth biggest pavilion built on a rectangular plot of 2,370 sq.m., and developed by the Warsaw office 2pm studio under the leadership of the chief architect Piotr Musialowski is a great example of a straightforward yet highly appealing design. Pavilion’s humble and at the same moment evocative patterned exterior is a good magnet for visitors to explore Poland’s latest achievements in the agri-food sector, considered to be the country’s specialty.
But why apple crates? As one can easily learn, Poland is the European leader in apple production and the third greatest apple producer worldwide. In fact, wooden packaging boxes commonly used for fruits and vegetables, and showcased here directly as the building cladding are not the only reference to the Poland’s achievements and records in the fruits production, safety and quality.
Besides the striking boxed fronts, the pavilion offers a great apple interior experience too. Visitors, brought directly to the roof level through a tall and narrow entrance aperture, end up in an unforeseen bucolic open air orchard inspired by Mehoffer’s painting “Weird Garden”. Surrounded by mirrors on all four sides, this lush green plot appears visibly infinite. In this creative way the Warsaw architects have triggered associations with the export hit of Polish agriculture, showcased Polish characteristic landscape, and, at the same moment, stated the country’s attitude toward sustainability issues, organic farming, food processing, biotechnology and environmental protection.
Besides the striking boxed fronts, the pavilion offers a great apple interior experience too. Visitors, brought directly to the roof level through a tall and narrow entrance aperture, end up in an unforeseen bucolic open air orchard inspired by Mehoffer’s painting “Weird Garden”. Surrounded by mirrors on all four sides, this lush green plot appears visibly infinite. In this creative way the Warsaw architects have triggered associations with the export hit of Polish agriculture, showcased Polish characteristic landscape, and, at the same moment, stated the country’s attitude toward sustainability issues, organic farming, food processing, biotechnology and environmental protection.
After the symbolic secret garden, visitors are led through a sequence of edifying rooms, a narrative on Poland’s food heritage. The 1,400 sq.m of exhibition space includes halls with multimedia installations, interactive playgrounds, a cinema, a shop and a restaurant.
This is the sixth time Poland is participating in a Universal Exposition. And since 2000, the country really counts among the most significant and attractive Expo participants, above all thanks to the original design and architectural and construction technology. Indeed, Poland brings home stellar statistics on the pavilion’s attendance, good appreciation ratings and numerous awards. So let’s see if this year’s Polish pavilion, with its rustic architectural concept selected from the 59 competition entries, will see an rise in visitors and gain more international recognition. So far, it’s doing really well... Read the original article & see more pictures in my article on Inhabitat.com.
Text and pictures exclusively for Inhabitat USA by Maria Novozhilova
Follow me on twitter at @NovozhilovaM
Follow me on instagram at @MN.Blog
This is the sixth time Poland is participating in a Universal Exposition. And since 2000, the country really counts among the most significant and attractive Expo participants, above all thanks to the original design and architectural and construction technology. Indeed, Poland brings home stellar statistics on the pavilion’s attendance, good appreciation ratings and numerous awards. So let’s see if this year’s Polish pavilion, with its rustic architectural concept selected from the 59 competition entries, will see an rise in visitors and gain more international recognition. So far, it’s doing really well... Read the original article & see more pictures in my article on Inhabitat.com.
Text and pictures exclusively for Inhabitat USA by Maria Novozhilova
Follow me on twitter at @NovozhilovaM
Follow me on instagram at @MN.Blog