UIA Seoul -Brazilian Pavilion

All the worlds. Just one world. Architecture 21

In the briefing for the UIA 2020 RIO stand project, three major guidelines were established:
1. To express all five continents and reveal the existence of common aspects in their urban formations;
2. To present Rio de Janeiro, its urban forms, its geography, its culture, its people, its contrasts;
3. To create a setting that is appealing to the visitors, capable of functioning as a photography backdrop.

The design consists in a big luminous box, with dimensions (6.0 X 6.0 X 4.0) meters, built with self-sustaining walls, interlocked in order to provide stability to the structure and topped by crowning beams, supported by four pillars.
Each wall is a lighting source formed by an aluminum frame 12cm wide and 12mm thick, with two high-performance LED sticks internally attached to the frame’s longitudinal bars, and covered with white fabric on both faces, generating efficient, soft and agreeable lighting. The fabrics on the “lamp wall” will be printed in high definition, thus allowing all sorts of images. Elements such as TVs and tablets can be attached on the wall structure, therefore becoming totally integrated to its surface.
On the external surfaces of the lower walls, we propose to print photographs of cities that represent the five continents: Cairo in Africa; Sidney in Oceania; Seoul in Asia; New York in America and London in Europe. All of them great urban centers, with populations varying from five to ten millions, all of them facing challenges such as Rio, with its more than six million inhabitants. The upper wall will receive the logos of the UIA 2020 RIO stand.
Internally, the “lamp walls” will display photographs of Rio de Janeiro. In contrast with the external photographs, the internal will be colorful, in order to emphasize Rio´s exuberance and to draw the attention of the bystanders. A Rio Experience will be provided, with stimuli to the five senses, in which the visitor shall enter a space with references galore. In addition to the images that represent the rich and complex socio-cultural urban setting of the city, background music and smells of sea/forest will compose the ambiance. The floor will be covered with patterns that represent the sand, the streets, and Copacabana’s and Ipanema´s iconic sidewalk pavements. The photos themes were organized in accordance with the floor pattern: close to the sand, outdoors activities, people and nature; close to the sidewalks, the buildings and cultural expressions. The upper walls will bend in a 90-degree angle, extending 1 meter towards the center of the stand, forming a partial ceiling on which the photographs will continue; as a result, a the stand ceiling will have a void measuring 4.0 X 4.0 meters in the center of the space, where the UIA 2020 RIO mobile logo shall hang.

The stand will have three entrances/exits, and in two of them adequate space for presenting the stand identification, sponsor’s logos and the QR code for more info UIA 2020 RIO. The wall with the only internal black and white photograph will receive two 42” TVs, transmitting images and information pertaining to the event in Rio and documentary films about Brasil, and two 18.4” tablets, to allow interaction with the visitors, who will be able to express their thoughts and impressions through drawings and messages that will be saved and filed.
A floor covering as thin as possible, thus avoiding steps, provides easy handicap access. There is an intention to use Brazilian design furniture, especially those offered by the Niemeyer Foundation; until the availability of such furniture in Asia is confirmed, we selected furniture that is locally offered in Seoul. One long bench was arranged on the “Copacabana sidewalk” and two small benches on the “sand” pattern. As support furniture, a small cabinet also built in luminous surfaces, containing the event’s moto on its front, will keep pamphlets, corporate gifts and receptionist’s belongings. Such layout allows free visitor circulation, promoting fuller interaction the content to be presented.
The stand conception considered the installation place. We researched local stand suppliers for COEX, and both the structural system as the lighting walls are in accordance with the specifications thereby required. The stand can be entirely manufactured and assembled in Seoul.
We firmly believe that this stand, by its luminosity and unique vibration, will draw attention and cause a positive impact. With its printed walls and internal elements of attraction, it will provide numerous options for photographs and selfies. By stimulating other the senses, it is bound to compel the visitors to enjoy it repeatedly; by its content, it will strengthen the concept of one single world, interrelated with communication, economy and culture. It will show Rio de Janeiro, a city ready to be discovered by architects from all over the world, invested in overcoming the big issues of our time.