Framed by five highly sustainable buildings, the 130-meter diameter Al Wasl Plaza is a trellis, veiled in perforated fabric, stands at 67-meters in height. This innovative structure is the centerpiece of the upcoming World Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which will now take place in October 2021. The dome covers a landscaped park that defines the heart of the Expo, serving as the central civic space.
The plaza’s garden space is transformative. The sloped “vineyard” configuration offers “rooms” for relaxation or activity. Landscaped with native plants and water features, the abundant garden functions as a public gathering space. The percentage of perforation in the trellis’ fabric helps the space continuously circulate air. The trellis is also not completely covered: gaps between the structural frame and the fabric cast an endless pattern of rings of sunlight to the garden floor. This combination of direct light, 50% light, 30% light, and full shade with carefully placed water features, as well as the shade of the buildings, creates an environment in the garden that is considerably visually active and much cooler than the adjacent exterior spaces.
The garden plaza has a capacity of several thousand people for large-scale events that will take place during the Expo. The world’s largest 360-degree immersive projection will be a key feature, displayed onto the surface of the trellis for daily nighttime shows and performances. As the dome is translucent, the projection will be visible to both those inside and out of the covered plaza.
All the information about how to enter the 2020 WAN Awards is here.
We are very happy to offer support so please don’t hesitate to email Georgia, WAN Awards Event Coordinator with any questions at Georgia.Baily@haymarket.com.
Last year more than 40 countries took part in the WAN Awards with strong showings from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. And we saw some truly outstanding projects, take a look at the winners from last year here.