Expo 2008
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Expo 2008 was an
Zaragoza, host city for the international exposition, is the administrative and financial capital of the
(Italy).The exhibition's most emblematic buildings were the
Aside from the countries, non-government organizations and private companies took part in Expo 2008, always with the idea of water and sustainable development. Prior to the event, the Expo 2008 host committee estimated that the exposition could generate 135 million euros in receipts for admission to the exhibition centre.
Spaces and exhibitions
Thematic pavilions
Bridge pavilion
The Bridge Pavilion[2] was one of the most emblematic buildings of Expo 2008. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it was built in two levels with the shape of a gladiolus opening and closing. It joins the neighbourhood of La Almozara and the Expo site with a central island in the river Ebro.
The Bridge Pavilion hosted the exposition Water – a unique resource, designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, which tried to present water as a universal human right, to inform visitors how water is a unique resource and to explain water management procedures and encourage citizen participation.
Water tower
The
The Water Tower hosted the exposition Water for life where "audiovisual media and lighting play a key role in the way the contents are communicated".
Aquarium
This thematic pavilion,[6] which remained in operation after the expo,[citation needed] is the biggest freshwater aquarium in Europe, with 300 species of fauna from rivers around the world in 60 tanks or terrariums. Rivers represented are:
- The Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
- The Mekong: In this river visitors will find species of the Himalayas, gardens from the river's lower course, the Pacific Ocean and coral reefs.
- The mangrove swampwith an exhibition on the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Murray-Darling river: This exhibition begins in the flooded regions and goes through desert areas. It finishes with a video exhibition about birds.
- The Ebro: It is also represented in two areas. The first area is a mountain cave and the second is the course of the river. There will also be an exhibition on the Mediterranean Sea.
- The "World River": It represents the past, when "all the continents were united as a single island surrounded by ocean".
Thematic squares
Thirst
This thematic square employed mirrors, audiovisual projections and combinations of light and sound to create optical illusions.[7] It was 46.7 metres in diameter, covering a total area of 1,640 square metres (820 of them were the exposition area).
Igloo of salt
Designed by Cloud 9 / Enric Ruiz-Geli, this plaza's architecture was that of an enigmatic building. It was an inflatable structure covered with salt that reflected the sun's rays and lit up at night as if it had stored all of the necessary energy to continue to function.
This themed plaza was designed according to Expo Zaragoza 2008's sustainability criteria: the use of
The use of
Cities of water
This square had no walls, so its contents were visible from outside.[8] The exhibit was about water as an "urban resource" and a "natural element in the process of improving quality of life in cities".
Extreme water
This square symbolised the moment when a wave breaks on the beach.[9] It was divided into two areas: the first was the sensorial area with 120 mobile seats where audiovisuals were projected; the second was the ideas area with interactive platforms, images and texts about water and its risks.
Oikos, water and energy
This exhibit was about getting energy from water.[10]
This thematic square[11] showed visitors how political divisions affect the management of water.
Aquatic inspirations
This square[12] hosted the show El hombre vertiente, created by the Argentine Pichón Baldinu, six times a day.
Participants pavilion
Country pavilions
More than one hundred countries, plus dozens of companies and NGOs, participated in Expo 2008. The confirmed list had these 104 countries[13] (arranged in alphabetical order):
The 17 autonomous communities of Spain and two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla also participated, as did as the United Nations and the European Union.
The pavilions for official participants were divided into eight large buildings and into five differentiated eco-geographical areas within the Expo 2008 Exposition site. Those areas were:
- Islands and Coasts
- Oasis
- Ice and snow
- Temperate Forests
- Tropical Rainforests
- Mountains and High Plains
- Grasslands, Steppes and Savannahs
- Rivers and Flat plains
The joint pavilions corresponding to the eco-geographic areas of Grasslands, Steppes and Savannahs, Tropical Rainforests and Islands and Coasts, were built by the organisers to house the pavilions of countries of
Spain and the region of Aragon, as hosts, had their own separate pavilions. The Spain Pavilion was designed by Patxi Mangado, and the Aragon Pavilion, which resembled local basketweaving, by Daniel Olano.
Citizen's initiative pavilion
This pavilion had the shape of a beacon,[14] "a symbol of hope for the future of water in our world". It expressed the vitality of ordinary people and non-governmental organisations. The Beacon was situated by the Bridge Pavilion entrance.
Gold Prize award
The
Shows
Expo 2008 had a 93-day-long show programme with more than 3,400 acts from more than 350 companies and artists.
On the expo site, there were three shows called major events. They were:
Iceberg
This show was intended to be the artistic part of the Opening Ceremony, although the flood of the river Ebro in the previous days forced plans to change, as the set was situated in the middle of the river. Nevertheless, the show was presented each night starting on 20 June.[16] The Spanish director Calixto Bieito and the scenographer Alfons Flores were responsible for the set design while the music was by José Luis Romeo. The show had a huge iceberg with a minute human figure designed by the Catalan company FOCUS.
El hombre vertiente
This show, created by the Argentine Pichón Baldinu, was the artistic part of the Opening Ceremony on 13 June 2008, in replacement of "Iceberg". It repeated six times throughout the day at the thematic square Water Inspirations.
The Awakening of the Serpent
This water-themed parade took place every day at the Expo site as "The Awakening of the Serpent" wandered around the site. The parade's creative director was Jean François Brouchard and its artistic director Julien Gabriel. Canada's Cirque du Soleil participated with acrobats, actors, gymnasts, singers and musicians.
Bob Dylan and additional American artists
Expo 2008 officially opened with a concert by Bob Dylan, the Official Artist of Expo 2008.
Additional American artists scheduled to perform on the evening entertainment stage included
closed Expo 2008.Mascot
The Expo 2008 mascot was Fluvi,[17] a little male drop of water.
With his best friend Ica, the smallest drop of water, and Nico and Laurita, he fought against the pollution made by Sec and Raspa, the evil Negas.
Qatar issued a postage stamp miniature sheet commemorating Expo Zaragoza 2008, which pictured Fluvi.
After the Expo
This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Uses forward-looking information that is now 12 years old, actual outcomes are surely available.(April 2020) |
The exposition site and its facilities were planned thinking of their usage as a new extension of the city when the Expo finished in September 2008. The expectation[
The international pavilions were to be remodelled and converted into offices so that the site would become the main business park in Zaragoza. This space was also to have recreational establishments and restaurants.
Other expectations were that a great part of the site would be used for shopping establishments and for the construction of a science park for businesses.
The Aquarium, as the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe, has continued operation till the present day.
References
- ^ a b "2008 Zaragoza". www.bie-paris.org. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Bridge Pavilion". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Water Tower". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012.
- ^ Escultura Splash Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine programcollective.com
- ^ Splash Credits expozaragoza2008.es Archived 28 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Aquarium". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012.
- ^ "Thirst". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
- ^ "Cities of Water". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
- ^ "Extreme Water". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
- ^ "Oikos: water and energy". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Shared Water". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2007.
- ^ "Aquatic Inspirations". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012.
- ^ Expo Zaragoza 2008 :: Participants Archived 3 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Citizen's Initiative Pavilion". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012.
- ^ Globalnation.inquirer: Philippines wins grand prize in Expo Zaragoza Archived 21 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "El espectáculo del Iceberg en la EXPO de Zaragoza comenzará el 20 de junio". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- ^ "Fluvi". expozaragoza2008.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
External links
- Official Expo 2008
- Official website of the BIE
- European Patent Office
- ExpoMuseum's Expo 2008 Page Archived 9 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- Polish Pavilion
- French Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Danish Pavilion
- Japanese Pavilion
- Italian Pavilion
- Portuguese Pavilion
- Galician Pavilion
- Expo Zaragoza 2008 Emblematic Buildings & Pavilions from Aragon Guide .com
- Basic and Practice Information about Expo 2008
- Beacon official website
- The 21 metre tall Splash sculpture. Archived 15 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- An upgraded video-serie about the Expo2008
Expo 2008.