Dutch Dubai Expo 2020 pavilion revealed

Dutch Dubai Expo 2020 theme – Uniting water, food & energy

The design of the Dutch Dubai Expo 2020 Pavilion and its theme, ‘uniting water, energy and food’, were revealed on December 9, 2018 at an event in Dubai, attended by Hans Sandee, Commissioner General for the Dutch Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Michiel Raaphorst of V8 architects, Roger Kornmayer of Expomobilia, Steven Delfgaauw of Witteveen+Bos and Mark de Jong of Kossmann.dejong.

The interactive event was hosted and moderated by media personality Richard Dean, presenter of The Business Breakfast on Dubai Eye 103.8.

‘We’re proud of this wonderful design, which shows what the Netherlands is all about,’ said Dutch foreign trade and development minister Sigrid Kaag. ‘Developing unique integrated solutions that create links, especially in the areas of water, energy and food, where we are world leaders.’

Drive positive change

The Middle East is very much affected by global issues such as water scarcity, food security and rising demand for energy. Gulf countries tend to consume more water and energy per capita than many other parts of the world, and the majority of the region’s food is imported. Expo 2020 Dubai offers an exciting opportunity to drive positive change.

This is where the Netherlands is keen to contribute. By showcasing home-grown solutions that link the issues of water, energy and food – and by working closely with Gulf countries to develop sustainable solutions appropriate to their local ecosystems – we can use our innovation, knowledge and expertise to help the region create a greener, more sustainable future.

Yas Island, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Canal, the Museum of the Future, the Port of Fujairah and Dubai Airports are all ventures in which Dutch companies have been involved.

View also

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Climate-generating pavilion – A biotope

With a pavilion featuring a unique circular climate system that showcases the Netherlands’ innovative strength, the Dutch campaign and its participation through Dutch Dubai Expo 2020 pavilion will help the country to capitalise on opportunities not only in the Gulf region, but also further afield.

‘It’s a real calling card for the Netherlands,’ said Hans Sandee, who is also the Dutch Consul-General to Dubai. ‘And we’re looking forward to receiving members of the public and lots of visitors from the business world.’

The pavilion’s unique design gives visitors a powerful sense of the connection between water, energy and food. A circular climate system – a biotope, essentially – provides visitors (tourists and business people alike) with an intense sensory experience.

We have designed a miniature world that you can enter, where water, energy and food are intrinsically linked, and the climate is controlled naturally. In a country with a desert climate, the Netherlands is creating a biotope in which everything is connected, enabling us to produce our own water, energy and food.

Sustainable and minimal ecological footprint

The Netherlands is also setting a sustainable example in terms of the building itself. It will be constructed entirely from locally available construction materials, so as to minimise transportation. The interior, too, will feature only rented materials, which will be returned or repurposed at a new destination when the pavilion is dismantled. In this way, its ecological footprint will be minimised.

The Netherlands will invest EUR 19.4 million (AED 81.1 million) in its Expo 2020 participation. The pavilion was designed in close collaboration between the Dutch firms V8 architects, Kossmann.dejong, Witteveen+Bos and the Swiss-based firm Expomobilia. The Dutch Pavilion will be located in Expo 2020’s Sustainability Thematic District.

Expo 2020 Dubai expects to attract 25 million visits between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. Approximately 70% of its visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More information at www.dutchdubai.com | www.rijksoverheid.nl/dubaiexpo2020