benedetta tagliabue presents copagri pavilion of timber domes at expo milan

benedetta tagliabue presents copagri pavilion of timber domes at expo milano
image © designboom

having created the dynamically woven spanish pavilion for the 2010 shanghai expo, italian architect benedetta tagliabue of EMBT, returns to her home city of milan to contribute to 2015 world expo with the construction of the copagri ‘love it’ pavilion.

the intersecting geometric domes with the ‘tree of life’ in between
image © designboom

commissioned by copagri, (the confederation of agricultural producers) the structure is made up two prefabricated geodesic domes — equal in diameter, but different in height — of delicately folded triangles. the design emerged from the observation of italian landscapes and architecture with the splendor of italian cities represented by their skyline of cupolas. ‘love it’ is composed of glulam elements made of spruce and joined by steel plates. it has been erected as a three-dimensional grid that slowly emerges into woven branches that extend from the roof, subtly mimicking the expo’s ‘tree of life’ seen in the distant backdrop. 

image © designboom

each dome is wrapped with an internal PVC sheet which has been suspended from their. this covers the openings to provide water resistance. the seaming follows the structural grid, enabling natural ventilation to occur throughout as a result of stack effect. the entire perimeter of the arched pavilion is covered with a net fabric, whose zig-zag pattern follows the overall grid, also ensuring ventilation.

the double dome is a prefabricated structure, made of spruce glulam with zinc-coated steel joints
image © designboom

internally, the pavilion showcases ‘real italian food’. organized into different areas, the small dome hosts 13 large triangular counters which seek to recreate the typical italian market atmosphere. each of these booths hosts a weekly rotating display of natural products, that are narrated by the farmers /producers telling their story. promoting ‘made in italy’, the larger of the two domes is equipped with a multipurpose room for cooking demonstrations, a multi-sensorial exhibit and two zones dedicated to biological pizza and ice-cream tasting. lamps, which reflect the shape of the pavilion are suspended from the PVC sheet tie-beams and dangle from above, illuminating the exhibition space.

within, ‘real italian food’ will be available to purchase
image © designboom

on the official opening of the copagri ‘love it’ pavilion, designboom spoke with benedetta tagliabue who elabrates on overall architectural concept of the structure, the collaboration with the confederation of agricultural producers, and challenges EMBT faced in realizing the domes on a short timeline.

designboom: how did the partnership with copagri come about for this pavilion?

benedetta tagliabue: we were proposing for expo some special domes built in wood, re-buildable… and expo was proposing our idea to companies, different companies who wished to have a unique space, in a very permanent place; and copagri started to become very interested. and when expo told them ‘oh, we have no time to build this dome. you have to do something else,’ they said, ‘no, we want benedetta’s dome and we will do our best to build it,’ and here it is!

structurally, it is composed of a big three-dimensional grid that gradually transforms in woven branches
image © designboom

DB: what was the main architecture concept?

BT: we were reflecting upon italy hosting an expo, and how to reflect italy… and we remember all the domes in all the beautiful churches that italy has. so, we though domes was a good theme for italy. also rebuilding and reconstructing wood as a natural material, this is something very important; and in the same time we were remembering buckminster fuller, frei otto and their approach for a better way of living in the future. so, we were proposing a kind of a playful way, a playful utopia let’s say. 

one of the two entrances to the pavilion
image © designboom

DB: could you talk about the programmatic layout of the space?

BT: well we, we were trying to organize these domes with different lights and trees, and with different textures, with different ways of structurally putting it together. we had many different ones planned. but then this one was the one, the only one chosen to be built, and we think it is a very nice one, no? it is structurally making kind of a shelter, a kind of exterior structure, and inside you can create your own tent. it is like living in a tent and the structure for the tent is already there.

glass and plastic has been used in between the triangles
image © designboom

DB: what were some of the challenges you faced in constructing a pavilion?

BT: well we faced a very difficult challenge which was building in a couple of months, that’s why everybody else decided not to do it, and we had to be very quick. the team had to be very united, very together, and this was crucial, otherwise we wouldn’t have done it. and we were able to change. we had a project which was kind of a concluded project, but it had to change very quickly because the determined material was impossible to get, or something was very expensive at the very last moment, so decisions were done very quickly, but with very good humor and everybody working towards the same aim.

the interesting structure creates a play of light and shadow
image © designboom

DB: after designing the spanish pavilion for the shanghai expo, how does it feel to be participating again in this world event, this time in your home city?

BT: well in the shanghai expo we were in a national pavilion, here we are in a small construction for a cooperative, so for society let’s say. I think it is very beautiful, but I realized that italy, is very difficult for me. sometimes the place where you are born is very difficult, and sometimes it easier to talk and have things done externally (abroad).  at the same time it is very home-like, so more difficult because it is home, but easier because I can have next to me: my parents, my family, the same language that I was brought up with, so it’s a double feeling.

aerial view of the pavilion
image © marcela grassi

the pavilion consists of the combination of two single domes of equal diameter, but different heights
image © designboom

based on a marketplace, products from wine to pasta are on display
image © designboom

interior at night
image © marcela grassi

laser cut timber decorations shaped as a dome, are suspended from the PVC sheet tie-beams
image © designboom

structural detail
image © designboom

the interior exhibition space
image © designboom

general exhibition view of the products on show, which are in rotation weekly
image © designboom

the exterior of the domes during the evening
image © roland halbe

tagliabue also designed the public seating area next to the copagri pavilion in collaboration with italcementi group
image © marcela grassi

benedetta tagliabue has also realized a special seating project for expo milano 2015. ‘minamora’ is a collaboration with the italcementi group which is positioned in the courtyard next to the italian pavilion by nemesi & partners. drawing its name from the auspicious concept of falling in love, it is derived from the japanese world ‘minamo’ which means water surface.

concept of minamora, revolves around the image of free flowing water
image © marcela grassi

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project info:

location: lake arena, expo milano 2015. milan, italy.
clients: copagri expo, treviglio (bg), expo 2015 s.p.a. milano
design period: april 2014 – december 2014
construction period: march 2015 – april 2015
built area: 560 m2
budget: 750.000 euros
architectural design: miralles tagliabue embt
architect: benedetta tagliabue
structural design: francesco iorio – sio; studio iorio, bergamo
interior design: andrea laudini – moniga del garda (BS)
graphics: empresa creativa – riccione (RN)
geometry consultant: indexlab, milano