Riko hands over Slovenian pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai
Slovenian engineering group announces the completion of construction for the 1,550sqm pavilion in the Sustainability District
Riko, the European engineering group, has announced that it has completed construction of the Slovenian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and has handed the project over to the country’s authorities.
In a statement, the Slovenian company explained that the pavilion – located in the Sustainability District – has been built from wood, has a green façade, and is surrounded by water, highlighting the three main natural resources of Slovenia – wood, green environment, and water.
“The pavilion highlights Slovenia as the green heart in the centre of Europe, the intersection of land and sea transport routes and an important geostrategic country. The pavilion highlights three elements that best identify Slovenia: water, as a symbol of life, vitality, flow of materials and ideas; the floating forest, the nature that is the heart of Slovenia and the soul of Europe; and a sieve, a large “parasol”, a wooden umbrella, which is a technological invention with a strong Slovenian identity, characteristic for Riko’s region of origin,” the company says in a statement on its website.
“Riko’s wealth of experience in timber-frame construction has enabled it to build a prefabricated timber building in a country where timber construction is not only unknown, but also not regulated by law.
“The engineering know-how, combining the qualities of project management, an interdisciplinary approach and the use of BIM technology, contributed to the successful completion of the construction of the pavilion as one of the first projects of this globally important and high-profile platform.
“Riko has incorporated and integrated many approaches from contractors of different technical and cultural provenance into the overall process, successfully aligning them towards a common goal and all-round satisfaction. The Slovenian pavilion is therefore the pride of all those who contributed their rich knowledge, experience, and expectations to its realisation,” the company continued.
The conceptual design for the 1,550sqm pavilion was done by Magnet Design from Ljubljana. It was inspired by Jože Plečnik, a Slovenian architect whose works include the iconic Triple Bridge, located in the country’s capital.
Zdravko Počivalšek, the country’s economy minister, symbolically took over, on behalf of Slovenia, the management of the country’s pavilion at a special ceremony held during his official visit to the UAE last week.
Addressing the gathering, Počivalšek said: “Slovenia will show know-how, innovation and energy at the Expo”.
“Our pavilion will highlight Slovenia as the green heart in the centre of Europe, the intersection of land and sea transport routes and an important geostrategic country. It will showcase three elements that best identify Slovenia: water, as a symbol of life, vitality, flow of materials and ideas; the floating forest, the nature that is the heart of Slovenia and the soul of Europe; and a sieve, a large “parasol”, a wooden umbrella, which is a technological invention with a strong Slovenian identity,” he added.
According to him, the aim of Slovenia’s participation in Expo Dubai is to strengthen the presence in the markets of South Asian, African and Middle East countries.
“This is also key in light of post-COVID-19 relief efforts. Slovenia’s pavilion will be one of the 83 separate venues, where Slovenian as well as European characteristics will be presented – the EU will not have its own pavilion this year,” he added.
Slovenia’s Expo 2020 commissioner general Matic Volk also pointed out that Slovenia’s pavilion was in the sustainability venue, right by the expo’s entrance.
“The structure in the Sustainability District will make innovative use of glass, steel, and water to give visitors the impression they are surrounded by a forest suspended in the air. The promotional slogan will be Green, Creative, Smart,” he stated.
“Slovenian pavilion will be located by the entrance of the key pillar (district) of Sustainability. Therefore, if you will want to visit the Slovenian pavilion you surely won’t have a hard time finding it,” he added.
Themed the ‘Smart Green Cloud’, the Slovenia Pavilion will use elements of water, nature, and technology to engage all five senses and give visitors an in-depth view of Slovenian culture, he added.
Populated by Slovenian plant species, the ‘floating forest’ will be topped off by a sieve-dome that resembles a parasol.
The ground floor’s theme will be water, presenting the country’s sea, rivers, lakes, and particularly drinking water. Water will be surrounding the central part or a market with the four cardinal points marked on the floor, representing Slovenia’s position at the nexus of transport routes.
The first floor will be showcasing Slovenia’s forests, with green plants climbing the wooden rim of the structure. The plants will be kept cold and hydrated during the event, providing cooling refreshment for visitors.
