Source: en.expo2010.cn

04-21-2009 15:42

Italy today unveiled the design for its national pavilion in World Expo Shanghai 2010 as the country signed a participation contract with the organizers.

Scene of the signing ceremony

The pavilion, called The City of Man, is composed of 20 functional modules that can be assembled freely, Giampaolo Imbrighi, its designer, said at a press conference today.

The design was inspired by a traditional Shanghai game, Imbrighi said. In the game, children drop a batch of 20 to 30 sticks on a table and try to move one stick at a time without moving the others until all the sticks are cleared.

Imbrighi said the shape of the pavilion is as changeable as the game, which is called“Shanghai”in Italy.

An artist's rendition of the Italy Pavilion

The design was selected out of 65 candidates from a competition among European Union countries, said Beniamino Quintieri, commissioner general for Italy. The 20 modules represent the 20 regions of Italy, making the whole pavilion embody a mini Italian city.

The design also represents the harmony of different cultures and regions. When people walk in the pavilion, they will feel like walking in a city that combines Shanghai’s Shikumen-style lanes and an Italian square, Quintieri said.