Foster + Partners designed the pavilion’s mass recalling the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages and has been carefully designed using computational fluid dynamics simulations, to allow cool winds from the west into the streets during the height of summer. In the cooler months of April and October, the landscaped forecourt acts as a barrier to protect the pavilion from harsher northerly winds.
The pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages and has been carefully designed using computational fluid dynamics simulations, to allow cool winds from the west into the streets during the height of summer. In the cooler months of April and October, the landscaped forecourt acts as a barrier to protect the pavilion from harsher northerly winds.
Visitors enter the pavilion through a verdant forecourt, planted with Saudi Arabian flora, and walk through narrow streets that lead to the Saudi Courtyard, which is the beating heart of the scheme. The courtyard allows for moments of quiet reflection during the day and transforms into a venue for performances and events at night. From here, visitors are invited to explore a ‘village’ of meandering streets, with windows and doorways into a series of immersive spaces, designed in close collaboration with 59 Productions and Squint/Opera.
The pavilion is made from low-carbon materials, includes energy-saving luminaires, adopts rainwater recycling, and incorporates photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity. The project aims to achieve the Japanese green building rating system’s highest level and is on track to achieve the Net Zero Operational Carbon target. In addition, a series of WELL design principles have been implemented to enhance the health and well-being of occupants.
The pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages and has been carefully designed using computational fluid dynamics simulations, to allow cool winds from the west into the streets during the height of summer. In the cooler months of April and October, the landscaped forecourt acts as a barrier to protect the pavilion from harsher northerly winds.
Visitors enter the pavilion through a verdant forecourt, planted with Saudi Arabian flora, and walk through narrow streets that lead to the Saudi Courtyard, which is the beating heart of the scheme. The courtyard allows for moments of quiet reflection during the day and transforms into a venue for performances and events at night. From here, visitors are invited to explore a ‘village’ of meandering streets, with windows and doorways into a series of immersive spaces, designed in close collaboration with 59 Productions and Squint/Opera.
The pavilion is made from low-carbon materials, includes energy-saving luminaires, adopts rainwater recycling, and incorporates photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity. The project aims to achieve the Japanese green building rating system’s highest level and is on track to achieve the Net Zero Operational Carbon target. In addition, a series of WELL design principles have been implemented to enhance the health and well-being of occupants.
“Creating a legacy for the pavilion, once the Expo comes to an end, has been central to the design process. The structure’s cladding is made from lightweight Saudi stone and designed to be efficiently deconstructed and reassembled, or completely reconfigured, to meet different requirements in a future location.”
Tony Miki, Partner, Foster + Partners
This inherent flexibility will significantly extend the lifespan of the pavilion and enhance its sustainable credentials.
