Dubai, United Arab Emirates
All the roads of the rescheduled World Expo 2020 in Dubai lead to the centerpiece Al Wasl Plaza, designed by the Chicago-based firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.
The project was awarded a 2021 Green Good Design® Award and a 2021 International Architecture Award by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum.
Al Wasl is the historical name for Dubai but simultaneously means “connection” in Arabic, mirroring Dubai’s goal of bringing people together at the Expo, as well as the plaza’s physical location at the heart of the site.
The 150-meter diameter plaza will be topped by a 67-meter-high domed trellis made from veiled in perforated fabric and framed by five highly sustainable buildings.
The dome covers a landscaped park that defines the heart of the Expo, serving as the central civic space.
As the dome is translucent, the projection will be visible to both those inside and out of the covered plaza.
The world’s largest 360-degree immersive projection will be a key feature, displayed onto the surface of the trellis for daily nighttime shows and performances.
The plaza’s garden space is transformative. The sloped “vineyard” configuration offers “rooms” for relaxation or activity. Landscaped with native plants and water features, the abundant garden functions as a public gathering space.
The percentage of perforation in the trellis’ fabric helps the space continuously circulate air.
The trellis is also not completely covered: gaps between the structural frame and the fabric cast an endless pattern of rings of sunlight to the garden floor. This combination of direct light, 50% light, 30% light, and full shade with carefully placed water features, as well as the shade of the buildings, creates an environment in the garden that is considerably visually active and much cooler than the adjacent exterior spaces.
At the top of the trellis is a 35-meter wide oculus. The arc of sunlight that the ground receives is directly related to the species of planting and programs selected for those garden areas throughout the year. Palms span from east to west across the plaza, soaking in this “designed” sunlight.
The entire project and master plan have a rigorous set of KPI’s – ranging from water to light and air quality to waste – that was prepared specifically for the project and have been adhered to for heightened performance.
The result is a combination of built and open space that is symbiotically linked in order to significantly reduce energy loads and operational costs in the surrounding buildings and extend the days and times of comfortable use in the outdoor garden.
The upcoming World Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates has been rescheduled to take place in October 2021.
Architects: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Client: World Expo 2020 Dubai
