Daniel Libeskind Proposed Milan Expo Pavilion Design for Chinese Company Vanke

Daniel Libeskind has released his proposed designs for Chinese developer Vanke which will be a stand-alone pavilion during the Milan exposition. The Shitang Pavilion, which will be seen during the 2015 Milan expo, is already under construction.

Libeskind, who is based in NY, created a structure with sinuous volume and a scaly skin facade for China’s largest property developer. Some of the cited inspirations for the design would be Chinese Renaissance art and Ancient Chinese teachings. The curving flow of the structure creates a connection between the exterior and the interior. On the exterior of the structure would be a curving staircase that will lead visitors to the rooftop terrace.

Vanke’s pavilion design is a response to the expo’s theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.”

Aside from Libeskind, NY-based exhibition designer Ralph Appelbaum and Chinese graphic designer Han Jiaying will also be working on the said project to design the interior. Vanke aims to achieve the look of a “virtual forest” and will be installing 300 multimedia screens which will explore the idea of the role of the dinner table in Chinese communities.

Vanke chairman Wang Shi said, “In keeping with the theme of Expo Milano, Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, we proposed the concept Shitang for the Vanke Pavilion.” He explained, “Shitang in Chinese means ‘table’. We thus want to express our idea of urbanisation and community through the experience of food. Indeed, food is one of the most effective ways to understand a culture: the ritual of eating and talking together is important in every community because by eating together it is possible to get to know each other better.”
Earlier this year, China has revealed their design for the national pavilion which was designed by Studio Link-Arc as well as a team from Tsinghua University.