Chile - Expo Milano 2015
From Chile's Atacama Desert to Patagonia, and from its green central valleys to its eastern islands, the country's extreme geographical diversity is a key element of its showcase at Expo Milano 2015.
The pavilion's main attraction takes visitors on a journey to experience its different ecosystems, deserts, rivers, valleys and mountains, and to show how life thrives and is conserved in each of them.
It demonstrates how Chile is a country that seeks to create a sense of balance in its vast array of unique landscapes, cultures, foods and geographical landmarks.
The architecture of the pavilion, which covers an area of 1910 m2, focuses on the art of hospitality.
The Chilean architect Cristián Undurraga, therefore, designed a suspended structure, consisting of a large wooden lintel surrounded by a frame of interlocking beams.
All this is supported by four concrete pillars that create an intermediate space with an open horizon, typical of Chilean architecture.
The access point is a relaxation area with tables and benches.
Upon entering the pavilion, visitors encounter the Chilean "dining table" with all its flavours and colours.
A group of red statues, representing Chilean farmers, indicates the path to follow.
A corridor connects the exhibition hall to the tasting and events area.
The centre of the large wooden structure is accessed by a central ramp, which houses many works of art, including photographs, videos, multimedia, graphics, furniture and sculptures.
There is also a tunnel with twenty-four synchronised projectors that immerse visitors in a virtual reality experience, such as a fishing boat at sea or the vineyards of Carmenere.
All these elements combine to illustrate the different regions of Chile and typical Chilean cultures, and to communicate the diversity of its territory, its people, the fruits of its land, and the imagery and enticing banquet that this country offers the world.
The lighting project is the work of the Chilean lighting designer, Maite Zubicoa, who chose to light only the wooden façade and the ceiling of the ground floor.
In the remaining space there is no artificial lighting as the images of the food and its geographical origins are permanently projected, like a cinema.
At night, the structure looks like a huge lantern lit only from the inside.
The wooden frame of the pavilion is lit by iPro spotlights positioned in the individual triangular cells of the structure, and a warm colour temperature was chosen as it is particularly suited to wood.
In general, all products used to light the pavilion are non-invasive, minimalist, and blend in with the architecture, making the pavilion even more beautiful.
The decision to use LED lamps is based on the fact that their consumption levels are particularly low: only 20KW/h is needed to light the whole building.