EVD

Dutch pride in Shanghai

A few times now, Gielissen has won the contract from the EVD – a section of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to promote exports – for the Netherlands' pavilions for the World Expos held every four years. That was the case, among other places, in Seville, Lisbon, Hanover and Zaragoza. And in 2010, too, we got to work on the Netherlands Pavilion for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai together with architect John Körmeling and structural designer Rijk Blok.

An ascending rollercoaster

Körmeling's design was different: an ascending rollercoaster with little houses in different styles of architecture hung in it as exhibition spaces. Up in 'Happy Street', as the pavilion is called, a VIP room literally forms the crown on the work. The design came about simply because it was an open rather than closed building. Gielissen had never seen anything like it: the pavilion on its own was an experience.

One whole

Apart from elements of the furnishings with stages and stands, Gielissen also took care of lighting, sound, displays and so forth. Everything happened in consultation with Körmeling, so that architecture and furnishings formed one whole.