The 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai will be the first registered one in a developing country. Officially known as “Expo Shanghai 2010,” it will last 184 days and provide China an opportunity to show off its remarkable economic growth. The expo will also give foreign nations and companies a chance to further develop business partnerships with China and Chinese companies. This is the seventeenth in an ongoing series that will look at the upcoming expo, from country pavilions to trade development. In this article, we take a look at the Russian Pavilion.

By Peter Higgins

May 3 – With a long history of Expo participation, including the first World Expo in 1851 in London, Russia expects its Shanghai pavilion to attract a large number of visitors. The nation’s goal is to present a modern Russia, highlight technological achievements and embrace the Expo theme of “Better City, Better Life.”

Russia’s assigned exhibition site is one of the biggest with an area of 6,000 square meters. At a cost of approximately US$38 million, organizers see the pavilion as an investment in future Sino-Russian relations. Russia’s state-supported development bank, Vnesheconombank, is helping sponsor Russian participation in Expo 2010.

The whimsical design includes 12 irregular shaped towers painted red, gold and white. At the center of the pavilion is the 15-meter-tall civilization cube, which is designed to look like the sun and will house three floors of exhibition space.

Heavily inspired by Soviet author Nikolai Nosov’s book “The Adventures of Dunno and His Friends,” the Russian pavilion is aiming to be the most attractive for children. The government even involved children in a design contest at art schools and studios in Russia. Ten works were selected as winners and have been used in the interior design of the building. The 10 finalists will also receive a five-day trip to Shanghai to see their featured work at the Expo site.

In an interview with Xinhua News, Levon Airapetov, the head designer of the Russia’s pavilion, said that he combined Russian style with Chinese philosophy. The 12 towers are inspired by Zhuangzi’s idea of “different but not separate.” Together, the multi-colored towers represent a multi-ethnic Russia. The colors red, gold and white symbolize pure hearts, wheat, wealth, and beauty. The second philosophical influence is found in the unfinished top of the pavilion, which is inspired by the ancient Chinese Book of Changes and is meant to symbolize how a modern city should always be changing and developing.

Speaking about the interior, the designer said that it represents an ideal city, which should consist of three equal parts: nature and parks, culture and arts, and buildings for living. The interior of the pavilion, with its three floors, is designed to follow such an urban plan. The first floor is inspired by Nosov’s fairytale land of Flower City and will feature many supersized natural elements that will make visitors feel like small children again. Adults are encouraged to embrace the design and have fun while exploring it. The second floor is titled Solar City and features Russia’s technological achievements. The third floor, titled Moon City, is designed to help visitors imagine what future cities might look like.

The pavilion also features comfortable areas for business events. According to Vladimir Strashko, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the business event schedule incorporates regional cultural programs with negotiations, meetings, and networking.

While the pavilion’s design is meant to be fun and enjoyable, organizers are also hoping their investment pays off in more official ways. In a statement to Russian newswire service RIA Novosti, a counselor on trade and economic affairs from the Chinese embassy in Moscow said, “Expo 2010 in Shanghai will create a broad platform to expand the level of cooperation between Russia and China. I hope the parties will use this opportunity, expand mutual understanding and confidence.” Sino-Russian trade stood at US$56.8 billion in 2008, but fell sharply last year due to the financial crisis.

Russian participation in Expo 2010 is one of the ways the two nations are hoping to help the recovery of bilateral trade. Its whimsical design might also give off a softer image of the country and make it enjoyable for visitors of all ages.

Further Reading
The Complete Shanghai Expo 2010 Series