The giant funnel at the center of the Kuwait Pavilion represents the country’s water towers, storing fresh water in elevated tanks, Mepmiddleeast reports.
Spread across a built-up area of 5,600m2, the Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2020 marks the nation’s largest-ever participation at a World Expo.
Incorporating the theme `New Kuwait, New Opportunities for Sustainability,’ the pavilion offers a cross-section view of the country’s focus on sustainability, as well as its history, tradition, contemporary growth, and prosperity.
The pavilion was designed by Architect Marco Pestalozza, while the construction of the pavilion was completed by Cityneon, which is responsible for the design, operation, events, and dismantling of the pavilion.
Echoing its sustainability theme, even within the core of its construction, the building has been designed in a modular manner.
This will ensure that the Kuwait Pavilion can be easily dismantled and that the construction materials will be recycled when the six-month Expo 2020 Dubai event concludes on 31 March 2022.
The Kuwait Pavilion further extols its sustainability theme in its outer appearance, with an architectural design inspired by the nation’s vision for sustainability. The pavilion’s exterior structure comprises a golden facade surrounded by luminous gold prisms, which are characteristic of the nation’s desert landscapes.
The giant funnel at the center of the structure represents the country’s water towers, which store large quantities of fresh water in elevated tanks – a Kuwaiti symbol of sustainability and water security that calls for the region to protect and preserve its scarce resources. Internally, the massive water tower is strategically located at the center of the pavilion and extends upwards through all levels of the pavilion, which also includes a large scroll that reflects sunlight in a representation of Kuwait’s investment into solar power.
Abu Dhabi-based electromechanical and HVAC contractors Protec Electromechanical LLC were the MEP sub-contractors on the project, while Dubai-based architectural and engineering firm Design House Engineering Consultancy provided the consultancy services on the project.
The engineering, fabrication, as well as erection of the steel structures and decking were handled by Emirates Building Systems.
In terms of its MEP, the main challenges faced during the construction phases were the routing of the ducts and their sizes, because the building’s steel structure comprised large dropping beams of up to 80cm.
For the pavilion’s kitchen exhaust hood, an Ecology unit with an electrostatic precipitator has been installed. For the toilets and bathrooms, a centralised hot water system has been installed.
Additionally, lighting control systems have also been installed to monitor the power consumption of the pavilion and ensure its energy efficiency.
Sustainability has also been taken into consideration in the intricate details of the pavilion, such as the wash basin mixer, on which an infra-red sensor has been installed for flow control.
A stormwater collection tank has also been added to the pavilion to redirect water for irrigation use. Also, a dual-type flush tank has been installed in the toilets to ensure the efficient use of water.
The HVAC systems comprise highly energy-efficient Fresh Air Handling Units (FAHUs) with a heat-recovery wheel for energy-saving purposes. The designed FAHUs boast a 76% enthalpy efficiency and above 100% thermal efficiency.
Furthermore, the Kuwait Pavilion has been built with a central ventilation system to ensure that the structure is supplied with clean and fresh air. The central ventilation system has been designed with specific degrees of temperature, including a dry heat temperature of 34° C (93 degrees Fahrenheit) and a humid heat temperature of 32° C (89 degrees Fahrenheit).
The pavilion has also used LED fittings for its lighting systems in order to improve performance, lower energy consumption, and maintain the required lighting levels for exhibition purposes.
The light fittings – which included outdoor lighting for the pavement, as well as indoor lighting for the main hall of the Kuwait Pavilion – were carefully selected to maximise energy savings and reduce the carbon footprint of the structure during the six-month World Expo.
In terms of experiences at the pavilion, the theme is also incorporated into a ‘canal’ that mimics the sensation of flowing water, further highlighting the link between water and sustainability.
The most interesting parts of the Kuwait Pavilion that stand out to visitors, include The Courtyard – which displays a panoramic projection of the history of Kuwait; The Ramp – which offers visitors the experience of crossing the Sheikh Jaber Causeway; and The Environment and Nature section – which captures the country’s flora and fauna.
Furthermore, The Garden section exemplifies Nature as a source of life and reinforces Kuwait’s concern for environment and sustainability. The pavilion also has a section dedicated to Kuwait as a pioneer in field of Culture & Media, while The Digital Gateway section showcases the nation’s economic, scientific, and environmental progress, and the Globally Connected section features Kuwait’s focus on humanitarian efforts.
The pavilion was officially inaugurated by Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Culture, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, HE Abd Al-Rahman Badah Al-Mutairi, who was representing Kuwait’s Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Sabah Kalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, in the UAE.
The Director of the Kuwait Pavilion, Dr Bader Al Enzi, said: “Apart from the opportunity it presents for us to showcase the country and its uniqueness, Expo 2020 is also a celebration of GCC solidarity and the pro-active mind-set of togetherness that will pave the road for sustainable regional progress.”
The Deputy Director of the Kuwait Pavilion, Mazen Al Ansar, added: “The pavilion will take you through the milestones of Kuwait’s development from the pre-oil past to the oil-rich modern democratic state under continuous wise leadership. One of our core strategic objectives in participating at the Expo is to showcase our development initiatives under the New Kuwait Vision 2035.”
Kuwait intends to reinforce its reputation for spreading peace and security across the globe, while presenting itself economically as an ideal destination for foreign investments.
