EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

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International , EXHIBITOR News
EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

3/17/2022
For more than 30 years, EXHIBITOR magazine has brought you the world’s most prestigious exhibit-design competition, honoring the crème de la crème of trade show exhibits. Along those same lines, in 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2017, EXHIBITOR honored some of the most impressive temporary experiential structures the world has ever seen with its World Expo Awards competitions in China, South Korea, Italy, and Kazakhstan. Continuing that tradition, EXHIBITOR relaunched its World Expo Awards six months ago, and recently announced the winners and honorable mentions in the competition’s 14 categories during an EXHIBITORInsight webinar on Wednesday, March 16.

The purpose of this iteration of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s World Expo Awards is to honor the most impressive work from Expo 2020 in Dubai, and to spotlight some of the incredible pavilions there, all brimming with experiential-design inspiration for exhibit and event professionals. The competition received entries from dozens of pavilions, representing countries from Malaysia to Monaco, Spain to Saudi Arabia, Thailand to Turkey, Poland to Peru, and many more.

While a star-studded international panel of multidisciplinary design, marketing, and events experts judged 12 categories (visit www.ExhibitorOnline.com/awards/expo for more on our judging panel), the Editor’s Choice Award was determined by the writers and editors of EXHIBITOR magazine, and the People’s Choice Award winner was determined by popular vote on www.ExhibitorOnline.com, which attracted more than 550,000 visits from readers and Expo enthusiasts who cast their votes.

“The Expo 2020 Award winners and honorable mentions represent some of the world’s best examples of how design, technology, presentation, and storytelling come together to create immersive experiences and effectively communicate compelling messages,” said Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine. “These examples will hopefully inform and inspire today’s exhibit and event professionals — along with the next generation of face-to-face marketers. Because whether you’re creating an immense international pavilion or a small 10-by-10-foot exhibit, it’s often about making a lasting impression, and the work on display in Dubai does that in truly monumental and memorable ways.”

The top awards (namely Best Pavilion in four size-based categories) went to Saudi Arabia, Poland, Switzerland, and the Vision Pavilion. Additional awards were presented in categories ranging from Best Presentation and Best Use of Technology to Best Exterior Design and Best Sustainable Design. In total, 31 different pavilions received recognition in this year’s competition, with the pavilions from Azerbaijan, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the UAE earning high marks in multiple categories.

So join us in congratulating EXHIBITOR Magazine’s World Expo Award winners (listed below). After all, according to our judges, our readers, and our team of writers and editors, they are among the best the world (well, the world expo, at least) has to offer.

For more information on the winners of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s World Expo Awards, watch for the April/May 2022 print and digital issue of EXHIBITOR magazine. To watch the on-demand version of the awards ceremony, visit www.ExhibitorOnline.com/Insight.

BEST XL PAVILION (more than 5,000 square meters)
Winner: Saudi Arabia Pavilion

THEME: Reflection of the Kingdom’s Past, Present, and Shared Future
SIZE: 13,059 sqm
CLIENT: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco
DESIGN: Boris Micka Associates, Kraftwerk Living Technologies, Dar Al-Handasah
FABRICATION: ALEC, ALEC Fitout
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Vancram, Enefecto 3D, Sngular, Cyan Animatica, Entropy Studio, Pasos Largos, Adirondack, Cracknell, Leon Studio and Victor Reyes

Honorable Mention: Germany Pavilion
THEME: Campus Germany
SIZE: 9,004 sqm
CLIENT: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
DESIGN: Facts and Fiction GmbH, LAVA – Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Designatics GmbH, SLD Mediatec GmbH, M Guide GmbH, Samsung SDS, Lteg GmbH, ESME Entertainment Services Grosse8, Rangundnamen, L2 Atelier, Schlaich Bergermann Partner, Transsolar, Energytec, Steinlehner, Kardorff Ingenieure, Voss + Fischer, Taufik Kenan, Koelnmesse GmbH

Honorable Mention: UAE Pavilion
THEME: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future
SIZE: 15,064 sqm
CLIENT: Ministry of Culture and Youth (MOCY)
DESIGN: Santiago Calatrava
FABRICATION: ALEC
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Kossmanndejong, Tellart, SYPartners, Tinkah, Lest We Forget, Loci, Waho, Nexus Studios, Onion Lab, Factory Fifteen, Yesyesno, Matthew Herbert, Resonate, Mane, Calatrava International

BEST LARGE PAVILION (2,501-5,000 square meters)
Winner: Poland Pavilion

SIZE: 2,900 sqm
CLIENT: Polish Investment and Trade Agency
DESIGN: WXCA, Bellprat Partner AG, WSP, WSP Middle East
FABRICATION: Grupa MTP, FM Aldentro
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: ASK Studio, Ejsak Group, Poznan International Fair Consortium, Leniva Studio, Science Now, Stellar Fireworks, Tellart, Bico Group

Honorable Mention: Australia Pavilion
THEME: Blue Sky Dreaming
SIZE: 4,100 sqm
CLIENT: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
DESIGN: Bureau Proberts
FABRICATION: ASGC Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Accolade

Honorable Mention: Kazakhstan Pavilion
THEME: The Gateway to Tomorrow
SIZE: 3,500 sqm
CLIENT: Kazakhstan, QazExpoCongress
DESIGN: Insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants, ARDECO, Neumann and Müller

BEST MEDIUM PAVILION (1,201-2,500 square meters)
Winner: Switzerland Pavilion

THEME: Reflections
SIZE: 3,083 sqm
CLIENT: Presence Switzerland - Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
DESIGN: OOS AG, Bellprat Partner AG, Lorenz Eugster Landschaftarchitekten und Städtebau GmbH
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Winkler Livecom AG, Effektschmiede GmbH

Honorable Mention: Netherlands Pavilion
THEME: Uniting Water Energy Food
SIZE: 3,494 sqm
CLIENT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency
DESIGN: V8 Architects, Witteveen+Bos, Kossmanndejong
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Ap Verheggen, Marjan van Aubel, Mogu, BuroBelén

Honorable Mention: Azerbaijan Pavilion
THEME: Seeds of the Future
SIZE: 1,456 sqm
CLIENT: Republic of Azerbaijan – Heydar Aliyev Foundation
DESIGN: Simmetrico
FABRICATION: ASGC, Mint LLC, Carli Produzioni SrL
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Maco Technology, Rubner Holzbau, K&D International Contracting LLC, C Decorazioni, Leva srl, Dadomani srl, Terenzi Srl, Bonsaininja Srl, Videosoft Srl, Luxive srl, M2L Srl, Armonica Srl, Unitech Digital Media Srl, Product Linfa by Robonica, Design Giampiero Peia, PCMC

BEST SMALL PAVILION (1,200 or fewer square meters)
Winner: Vision Pavilion

THEME: Discovery, Inspiration, and Appreciation
SIZE: 500 sqm
CLIENT: Expo 2020 Dubai LLC
DESIGN: Icaria Atelier
FABRICATION: ALEC Fitout
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: CH2M Mace

Honorable Mention: Qatar Pavilion
THEME: The Future is Now
SIZE: 620 sqm
CLIENT: State of Qatar, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
DESIGN: Santiago Calatrava, Calatrava International LLC; Paradigm & Partners, Paradigm Middle East Exhibitions and Events
FABRICATION: ALEC Fitout

Honorable Mention: Lithuania Pavilion
THEME: Openarium
SIZE: 1,200 sqm
CLIENT: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
DESIGN: Baukas MB
FABRICATION: Arco Turnkey Solutions Contracting LLC
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Mart Pro, Ho Pro, Spectacular Events Management DMCC

BEST EXTERIOR DESIGN
Winner: UAE Pavilion

CLIENT: Ministry of Culture and Youth (MOCY)
DESIGN: Santiago Calatrava
FABRICATION: ALEC
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Kossmanndejong, Tellart, SYPartners, Tinkah, Lest We Forget, Loci, Waho, Nexus Studios, Onion Lab, Factory Fifteen, Yesyesno, Matthew Herbert, Resonate, Mane, Calatrava International

Honorable Mention: Saudi Arabia Pavilion
CLIENT: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco
DESIGN: Boris Micka Associates, Kraftwerk Living Technologies, Dar Al-Handasah
FABRICATION: ALEC, ALEC Fitout
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Vancram, Enefecto 3D, Sngular, Cyan Animatica, Entropy Studio, Pasos Largos, Adirondack, Cracknell, Leon Studio and Victor Reyes

Honorable Mention: Mobility Pavilion
CLIENT: Expo 2020 Dubai
DESIGN: Foster + Partners
FABRICATION: ALEC, ALEC Fitout
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: ALEC Engineering and Contracting LLC, Laing O Rourke Middle East, Permasteelisa Gartner, Proscape, Tiger Steel, Serapid, Weta Workshop

BEST SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Winner: Austria Pavilion

CLIENT: Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
DESIGN: Querkraft Architekten
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants, Büro Wien, Ars Electronica Solutions

Honorable Mention: Netherlands Pavilion
CLIENT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency
DESIGN: V8 Architects, Witteveen+Bos, Kossmanndejong
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Ap Verheggen, Marjan van Aubel, Mogu, BuroBelén

Honorable Mention: Malaysia Pavilion
CLIENT: Government of Malaysia; Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corp.
DESIGN: Hijjas Architects and Planners, Design Integrated Architectural Engineering Consultant
FABRICATION: Pico Malaysia, RAQ Contracting LLP
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: WEB Structures Sdn Bhd, LEC M&E Consultant Sdn Bhd, Atelier Ten, Inchscape Sdn Bhd, Flashlight Creative Sdn Bhd, KPK Quantity Surveyors Sdn Bhd, CD Communications Group Sdn Bhd

BEST INTERPRETATION OF THEME
Winner: Netherlands Pavilion

CLIENT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency
DESIGN: V8 Architects, Witteveen+Bos, Kossmanndejong
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Ap Verheggen, Marjan van Aubel, Mogu, BuroBelén

Honorable Mention: Azerbaijan Pavilion
CLIENT: Republic of Azerbaijan – Heydar Aliyev Foundation
DESIGN: Simmetrico
FABRICATION: ASGC, Mint LLC, Carli Produzioni SrL
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Maco Technology, Rubner Holzbau, K&D International Contracting LLC, C Decorazioni, Leva srl, Dadomani srl, Terenzi Srl, Bonsaininja Srl, Videosoft Srl, Luxive srl, M2L Srl, Armonica Srl, Unitech Digital Media Srl, Product Linfa by Robonica, Design Giampiero Peia, PCMC

Honorable Mention: Switzerland Pavilion
CLIENT: Presence Switzerland - Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
DESIGN: OOS AG, Bellprat Partner AG, Lorenz Eugster Landschaftarchitekten und Städtebau GmbH
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Winkler Livecom AG, Effektschmiede GmbH

BEST PRESENTATION
Winner: Kazakhstan Pavilion (AI-Controlled Flight)

CLIENT: Kazakhstan, QazExpoCongress
DESIGN: Insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants, ARDECO, Neumann and Müller

Honorable Mention: Japan Pavilion (Encountering Japan)
CLIENT: Japan External Trade Organization
DESIGN: Yuko Nagayama, NTT Facilities, Murayama Inc., Tanseisha Co. Ltd.
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Neumann and Müller Middle East, Dentsu Live Inc., Obayashi Middle East Construction LLC, Hakuhodo Inc.

Honorable Mention: USA Pavilion (The Sky is No Longer the Limit)
CLIENT: U.S. Department of State
DESIGN: Thinkwell Group Inc., Woods Bagot Pty Ltd.
FABRICATION: Mint Creative Production, Adirondack Studios
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Electra Exhibitions LLC, CTME, TECS Event Services, SpaceX, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Diligent Robotics, Cornell University, Zone Display Case, Maggs Bros. Ltd., Intellectual Properties Management, Zipline, Nanoracks, Inoksservis, Glidepath, Lobo and Listone, Honeywell, National Capital Flag Co., Art Sign Works, Mohawk, Herman Miller, Kohler, Berhardt/IFL, UPS, Dietl Artifact Shipping

BEST ACTIVITY/INTERACTIVE
Winner: Spain Pavilion (Forest of Intelligence)

CLIENT: Government of Spain, Accion Cultural Española (AC/E)
DESIGN: Temperaturas Extremas Arquitectos, External Reference Architecture Bureau, Onionlab
FABRICATION: Rimond Middle East General Contracting, Empty APD Joint Venture
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: The Others TV, Studio Canogar, Code 7 Pictures

Honorable Mention: Emirates Airline Pavilion (Experience Your Tomorrow)
CLIENT: Emirates Airline
DESIGN: Pulse Group
FABRICATION: Frozen Fish, CDC, WME
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: VK Exhibition & Décor Industry LLC, Fine Edge

Honorable Mention: Switzerland Pavilion (Sea of Fog)
CLIENT: Presence Switzerland - Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
DESIGN: OOS AG, Bellprat Partner AG, Lorenz Eugster Landschaftarchitekten und Städtebau GmbH
FABRICATION: Expomobilia, MCH Live Marketing Solutions AG
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Winkler Livecom AG, Effektschmiede GmbH

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Winner: Al Wasl Plaza (Dome Projection)

CLIENT: Expo 2020 Dubai LLC
DESIGN: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
FABRICATION: Jacobs Mace
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Creative Technology Middle East (CTME), Christie

Honorable Mention: Czech Republic Pavilion (SAWER System)
CLIENT: Czech Republic, Office of the Commissioner General for the Participation of the Czech Republic at the EXPO Universal Expositionlnmesse GmbH
DESIGN: Formosa AA s.r.o.
FABRICATION: Pico International, Builmark Contracting LLC

Honorable Mention: Japan Pavilion (Smartphone Integration)
CLIENT: Japan External Trade Organization
DESIGN: Yuko Nagayama, NTT Facilities, Murayama Inc., Tanseisha Co. Ltd.
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Neumann and Müller Middle East, Dentsu Live Inc., Obayashi Middle East Construction LLC, Hakuhodo Inc.

BEST EXHIBIT/DISPLAY
Winner: Opportunity Pavilion (Inverted Forest)

CLIENT: Expo 2020 Dubai LLC
DESIGN: AGI Architects, Icaria Atelier
FABRICATION: ASGC, ALEC Fitout, Eversendai Engineering LLC
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Flexbrick, Serge Ferrari, EConstruct, CH2M Mace

Honorable Mention: Saudi Arabia Pavilion (Audiovisual Kaleidoscope)
CLIENT: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco
DESIGN: Boris Micka Associates, Kraftwerk Living Technologies, Dar Al-Handasah
FABRICATION: ALEC, ALEC Fitout
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Vancram, Enefecto 3D, Sngular, Cyan Animatica, Entropy Studio, Pasos Largos, Adirondack, Cracknell, Leon Studio and Victor Reyes

Honorable Mention: New Zealand Pavilion (The River Room)
CLIENT: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
DESIGN: Jasmax
FABRICATION: Rice Perry Ellis & Partners, Rimond Middle East General Contracting, Turner & Townsend
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Neumann & Meuller, Nga Tangata Tiaki o Whanganui, Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, Haumi, Workshop e, Mott MacDonald, Kaynemaile Architectural Mesh, Lightworks, Special Group

BEST ELEMENTS/DETAILS
Winner: Italy Pavilion (3D-Printed David Statue)

CLIENT: Commissioner General’s Office of Section for Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, Adjunct Commissioner General of Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
DESIGN: CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, Italo Rota Building Office, Matteo Gatto, F&M Ingegneria
FABRICATION: RAQ Contracting Co., Mapei, Carli Produzioni S.r.l., Eurofiere S.P.A., Makr Shakr
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: AGMultivision, Liminae Lighting Design, P2A Design, 100km Studio, Studio FM Milano, CNR, ENI, Alessandro Camera, Italian Commissioner’s Office at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Museum of the Galleria dell’Accademia of Florence and the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Florence

Honorable Mention: Belarus Pavilion (Tree of Knowledge)
CLIENT: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Belarus
DESIGN: Khrystsina Vysotskaya, Aliaksandr Dranets, Yury Ulasik, Liudmila Vysotskaya, NUSSLI Group
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Neumann & Müller Middle East

Honorable Mention: Brazil Pavilion (Exterior Membrane)
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.

EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
Winner: Germany Pavilion

CLIENT: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
DESIGN: Facts and Fiction GmbH, LAVA – Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Designatics GmbH, SLD Mediatec GmbH, M Guide GmbH, Samsung SDS, Lteg GmbH, ESME Entertainment Services Grosse8, Rangundnamen, L2 Atelier, Schlaich Bergermann Partner, Transsolar, Energytec, Steinlehner, Kardorff Ingenieure, Voss + Fischer, Taufik Kenan, Koelnmesse GmbH

Honorable Mention: Thailand Pavilion
CLIENT: Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Ministry of Digital Economy and Society)
DESIGN: Index Creative Village PLC, Design103 International Co. Ltd.
FABRICATION: Index Creative Village PLC

Honorable Mention: Luxembourg Pavilion
CLIENT: Luxembourg @ Expo 2020 Dubai - Groupement d'Intérêt Économique
DESIGN: Metaform, Jangled Nerves
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Neumann and Müller Middle East

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Winner: Peru Pavilion

CLIENT: La Comision de Promocion del Peru para la Exportacion y el Turismo PROMPERU
DESIGN: Habitare Archetectura E Ingenieria, Pico International LLC
FABRICATION: Pico International LLC, QA Construct LLC, Pico Production Ltd.

Honorable Mention: Egypt Pavilion
DESIGN: United Group
FABRICATION: United Group Systems

Honorable Mention: India Pavilion
CLIENT: India Expo 2020
DESIGN: C.P. Kukreja Architects
FABRICATION: M/S City Diamond Contracting LLC
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Muse International, Moving Pixels, AASA Middle East

About Exhibitor Media Group
The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Media Group publishes the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine, a monthly publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITOR's learning events include: EXHIBITORLIVE, The Annual Conference and Exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketing; EXHIBITORFastTrak accelerated learning conferences; and EXHIBITOR eTrak, professional online learning. Exhibitor Media Group is also the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry's only university-affiliated professional certification program. Learn more at www.ExhibitorOnline.com.

EXHIBITOR is a registered trademark, and EXHIBITORLIVE, EXHIBITORFastTrak, and EXHIBITOR eTrak, are trademarks of Exhibitor Publications, Inc. in the USA and other countries. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

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