CLIENT: ApexBrasil, Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency
DESIGN: JPG.ARQ, MMBB Arquitetos, BEN-AVID
FABRICATION: Pico International LLC, QA Construct LLC, Pico Production Ltd.
PHOTOS: Ahmad Alnaji Photography, 3rd Floor
Atop a uniform, dark topography made of black pigmented stone (representing the Rio Negro in the Amazon basin), the Brazil Pavilion centers on the country and its waters, especially its rivers and mangroves. Comprising a tensile steel structure and lightweight white fabric, the pavilion is a massive canvas on which videos are projected from 125 different projectors, creating an immersive atmosphere of sounds and images over an area of undulating, shallow water through which the pavilion’s visitors pass. During the day, this structure shades and protects the waters. But at dusk, it resembles a luminous, floating cube. Immersed in projections, sounds, subtle aromas, visitors experience the essence of Brazil. It is an arresting place of interaction focused on preservation and sustainability through technology.
The infectious energy of Brazil permeates and greets visitors from the street, begging passersby to explore and dip their toes in the water while relaxing in hammocks surrounded by projections of Brazilian biomes, landscapes, festivals, and popular attractions. By following any of the paths, guests can enter the pavilion and visit the restaurant, café, and souvenir shop contained in separate, suspended structures depicting “palafitas,” which are houses built atop stilts in northern Brazil. By making their way to the observation deck, Expo attendees can enjoy views of the water plaza below. Using reclaimed water, low-energy LED lights, and a building management system that monitors and controls energy and water consumption, the structure is both striking and sustainable. So it’s no surprise that the Brazil Pavilion has been cited as one of the top 10 pavilions in countless travelogues, feature articles, and social media platforms.
