France has presented its design for Expo Milano 2015 in Milan—its representative building will be covered in gardens on the outside, from which food will be harvested and served inside. Designed by XTU architects, the pavilion was made based on the expo's theme: "Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life."
The pavilion will have an undulating interior meant to evoke the rolling hills of France, albeit an upside-down version, Dezeen reports. Through the use of digital fabrication techniques, layers of timber will give the building its unique ridged structure. The plan is for vines to grow through the gaps in the latticed wood.
Food from the building’s exterior—specifically, vegetables, hops, and herbs—will be harvested daily and cooked using hydroponic processes in the pavilion’s restaurant. In addition to the restaurant, an exhibition on France’s food production will inhabit the interior.
XTU said in a statement: “On the facades, we grow hops, on the terrace aromatic herbs, and in the restaurant, vegetables to be eaten on the spot. Hydroponic production that depicts the French innovation in partnership with the world leader of the sector! It is the image of a "fertile market", in direct production-consumption system. And at the end, there will be a great event for the harvesting of hops.”
In order for the pavilion will go up in time for the expo, it’s scheduled to be built in May 2015. France is one of 144 nations participating in World Expo 2015, which will run from May to October of next year.
Related Stories
Cultural Facilities | Nov 17, 2021
Henning Larsen-designed Shaw Auditorium opens at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The project celebrated its grand opening as part of HKUST’s thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Cultural Facilities | Oct 19, 2021
Niagara Falls is getting a bigger Welcome Center
The GWWO Architects-designed building will mostly sit on the site of the center it replaces.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Oct 13, 2021
Restoration of Ramova Theater in Chicago’s Bridgeport Neighborhood begins
The building was originally built in 1929.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
Cultural Facilities | Aug 2, 2021
A new venue for the San Diego Symphony’s outdoor performances opens this week
Rady Shell at Jacobs Park was funded almost entirely by private donors.
Cultural Facilities | Jun 28, 2021
Maine’s Children’s Museum & Theatre moves into new location that doubles its size
Interactive exhibits are among its features.
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 3, 2021
Student Housing Trends 2021-2022
In this exclusive video interview for HorizonTV, Fred Pierce, CEO of Pierce Education Properties, developer and manager of off-campus student residences, chats with Rob Cassidy, Editor, MULTIFAMILY Design + Construction about student housing during the pandemic and what to expect for on-campus and off-campus housing in Fall 2021 and into 2022.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.