Built for China Vanke at the 2015 Milan Expo, the Vanke Pavilion is ground-breaking in both construction and appearance. The scaly façade, manufactured by Casalgrande Padana, further accentuates the serpentine lines that define it, making its Chinese dragon-inspired nature even more apparent. A twisting motion creates a fluid circulation from the exterior into the exhibition area, providing visitors access to the rooftop terrace, which offers panoramic views of the entire Milan Expo Park.
Once inside the structure, a virtual “bamboo forest” conceived by the famous curator Ralph Appelbaum stands in concert with some 300 media screens to tell the story of Chinese culture and Vanke’s company history.
The project was realized collectively with China Vanke, Casalgrande Padana, Ralph Appelbaum, Lev Libeskind, and Daniel Libeskind, and their respective studios.