Greece - Expo Osaka 1970
Nine compact, classically shaped buildings presented 5000 years of Hellenic civilisation at Expo'70.
The Greek pavilion. Based on this historical journey, the pavilion itself was a progression, on various levels for the project of the eventful Greek history, through the ages: the geometric period, the Cycladic civilisation, the Cretan Minoan civilisations, the sea as a creative power, classical Greece, Alexander the Great and his contribution to world civilisation, the Byzantine period, medieval Greece, and then contemporary Greece with its fantastic appeal to the tourist.
Although the buildings were small in scale, in keeping with Hellenic tradition, they produced a vast and unique exhibition space.
Inside, the exhibits consisted of copies of original art pieces, frescoes, vases, ceramics, sculptures, bas-reliefs, jewellery, coins, icons, and beautiful photographs, as well as model ships to reflect the great tradition of the sea and examples of contemporary and modern crafts and industrial products.
In an open-air theatre, modelled on an ancient prototype, folk dance and classical plays were presented.
The philosophy of the pavilion was based on an abstraction of the classical form. A 1.5-metre square section of simplified construction preserved the Hellenic tradition. The floor was everywhere in white Pendelic marble.
Everything in the landscaping, whether of compressed earth or rocks, was based on the Greek tradition. A 5000 year old tradition. A restaurant under the ancient theatre served authentic Greek delicacies, including mutton dishes. All in all, the Greek pavilion had to be seen as one of the highlights of Expo'70.