Expo 2020 Dubai's Alif Pavilion, Designed by Foster + Partners, Now Open for Visitors

The Alif – The Mobility Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has opened its doors to visitors, offering an immersive and interactive experience of new mobility technologies. Designed by Foster + Partners, the building is one of three signature pavilions based on the sub-themes of Mobility, Sustainability, and Opportunity. As a collaborative project with Expo 2020 Dubai, the pavilion addresses the overall theme of Connecting Minds and Creating the Future, providing a platform to foster creativity, innovation, and collaboration globally. The Mobility Pavilion, named Alif after the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, occupies a dedicated plaza at the south entrance to the site, reflecting the aspiration of Dubai and the UAE in its technology and investment. 

The ribbed and curved shape of the pavilion is designed to evoke movement, and its highly reflective stainless-steel cladding is inspired by chrome fenders and aircraft wings, reflecting the surrounding areas and making the building seem alive and in motion. The visible lines of the building's layers hint at how we are all connected, even when physically far apart. The exterior landscape of the building forms a platform for interactive shows and experiments that explore the notion of Mobility. An amphitheatre and a second stage, as well as a piazza surrounding the building, will host mobility-related performances, events, symposiums, and demonstrations. Internally, the display areas are divided into three key zones, each forming a petal in the tri-foil plan. 

Visitors enter directly into the central core, which features the world's largest passenger lift, capable of holding more than 160 persons (38 for social distancing restrictions). This moving platform takes everyone up to the third level, where they can then move down through successive interconnected galleries to the lower ground floor, viewing innovative, immersive, and interactive visitor experiences focused on mobility. 

The design of the building and the exhibition have evolved together right from the outset in close collaboration with the Expo team. The tri-foil plan of the building has developed around the creation of three volumes which will house a dedicated space for each of these sections. A partly underground, partly open-air 330-metre track allows visitors to see cutting-edge mobility devices in action, as well as witness mass-produced technology that has the opportunity to vastly improve the quality of life for people in developing countries. 

Sustainability was at the forefront of the design, and the Mobility Pavilion has been designed to LEED Gold standard. It is a self-shading building, and its metal cladding reflects heat. Photovoltaic panels on the roof take advantage of solar energy, and the landscape design is sensitive to water use. After Expo 2020, the Mobility Pavilion will continue in legacy, becoming an integral element of District 2020. 

Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, said: "This is the third World Expo that we have been involved in, the two previous ones were in Shanghai and Milan. These events are incredible opportunities to showcase innovation from around the world. Similarly, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion conveys new ideas of mobility in a simple, yet thought-provoking and engaging manner, as we look towards the future of Dubai and the UAE in its aspirations, its technology, and its investment." The Mobility Pavilion is an excellent example of how architecture can play a critical role in showcasing and driving innovation and sustainability. The pavilion is a must-visit for anyone interested in new mobility technologies and the future of sustainable design.
 

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Photos ©2020 Expo 2020 Dubai LLC –SO. All rights reserved

Foster + Partners'press release