The variety of native plants reduces irrigation demand by 60%, Energy trees compact with solar panels and condense the humidity from the air to generate water to irrigate the pard around the Sustainability Pavilion
I had the chance to visit the Sustainability Pavilion, which is also known as the Terra – the centerpiece of Expo 2020. Interestingly, Expo 2020 is the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region will be open from the 1st October 2021 until 31st March 2022. Expo 2020 will unite more than 190 countries to explore the latest ideas and collectively tackle some of the greatest global challenges of our time.
Below are pictures taken during the visit on 3rd of March, 2021:
As a start, you are welcomed by the grand gate, carbon-fibre structures measure 30 x 21 meters. The structures were transported from Bavaria to Europe’s second-largest port Antwerp then to Jebel Ali by Expo logistics company UPS. The gate is unique and ‘there are no other entryways like this on the planet’ said Martin Osswald (The National, 2019).
Breaking the Expo 2020 skyline, the 21 meters high structure is like no other entryways
No plastic straws and bottles: straws are avocado seed-based.
Education boards: informing residents where to throw a certain type of waste.
Ultimately, the Sustainable Pavilion will be self-sustaining generating electricity, water and some days it might generate more power then it should, this will feed into the grid. There are strategies to design more than 45,000 green spaces to cool the area and the energy trees will shield the visitors from the harsh sun (Badam, 2018).
Generating electricity, water to irrigate the site and provide shade for residents throughout the day
Less demand for irrigation and resilient to the UAE’s climate
The native flora grown in Expo 2020 bring the site alive, ‘Greenery and landscaping is an integral part of the expo and the nursery is part of the Expo story as much as the pavilions and buildings’ says Ayesha Al Marzooqi, assistant manager for innovation and sustainability for Expo 2020 Dubai. The plants are sourced from farms in Al Ain, Liwa, and Mushrif Park in Dubai and provided by the emirate’s municipality. One of the native plants planted is the Miswak trees, which produce tooth-cleaning sticks that chewed to clean teeth and treat gum disease.
