‘Tree of Life’ Pavilion Unveiled for the World Expo 2015

The team of Nemesi & Partners Srl, Proger SpA and BMS Progetti Srl won the competition to design the Padiglione Italia at Expo 2015 for their ambitious pavilion whose façade is similar in form to that of the Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei-designed Bird’s Nest Stadium for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The winning design includes a main pavilion of approximately 12,000 sq m and a series of smaller pavilions to be located along the 325m-long Cardo for additional exhibition and institutional space. Concept creator Marco Balich made references to ‘The Nursery’ and ‘The Tree of Life’ in his design, stating: “The Nursery concept must permeate all the activity of the Padiglione Italia. We are counting on the energy and spirit of enterprise of the young people in the various institutions and schools that will be working with us in our pavilion.”

A symbol of Italian culture and lifestyle during the Expo 2015, the Padiglione Italia will act as a community hub centred on an open courtyard space. The building will be split into four blocks connected by bridge elements arranged around this open void in the centre. Within the four sections will be an exhibition area, auditorium, offices and meeting rooms and plans are for the structure to be as energy independent as possible.