The pavilion’s design (designed by SLOT Studio) is born from the idea of representing Mexico through its traditional elements which haven’t been exploited in these kinds of fairs. The proposal scheme is centered around the idea of creating a green space within the expo which at the same time represents our preoccupation to offer a better life standard for cities through the recovery of green areas rather than creating a protagonist building.

The Mexican pavilion is a volume defined by a talud (slope) which transforms itself into a plaza privileging public space as an urban gesture within the expo. Space is divided in three levels which represent three different moments of urban life in our country. The past is represented on the plinth, present time Mexico at the entrance level, and future on the platform.

The pavilion’s main feature lies within the design of the papalotes (kites), a word that comes from the Nahuatl papalotl which means butterfly, used as a cultural meeting point between Mexican and Chinese cultures.

Their proposal is to look into a future with areas which are thought, destined and planned specifically for leisure, the recovery of parks and green areas, where new generations might meet in a city with a “better living”.

Title: Mexican Pavilion for the Universal Expo Shanghai 2010
Theme: Better City, Better Life
Site: Shanghai, China. Expo Fair, American pavilions area, zone C, number 8.
Total Area: 4000m2
Built area: 3500m2
Dimensions: 80m long X 50m wide
Client: Promexico
Construction date: 2010

CREDITS

Project Name:
Mexican Pavilion for the Universal Expo Shanghai 2010

Design:
SLOT:
Juan Carlos González Vidals
Israel Alvarez Matamoros
Moritz Melchert
Mariana Tello Rodríguez
Edgar Octavio Ramírez Corrales

Collaborators:
Michel Trejo
Aaron Hernández
Efraín Ovando
Jimena Gonzalez Pie
Jorge Pardo Torra

Construction