Expo 2020 Dubai
This marked the first World Expo ever held in the Middle East. Originally scheduled to open in October 2020, the global event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately took place from October 2021 to March 2022.
Organised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the Expo brought together countries, organisations, private companies, and institutions from around the world to explore themes linked to innovation, sustainability, mobility, technology, urban development, science, culture, and global collaboration. Each participating nation hosted its own pavilion, designed to reflect its identity and vision.
In 2019, ahead of the event’s opening, 3D Design Bureau was appointed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to produce one architectural CGI and one architectural animation of the Irish Pavilion.
Working from architectural drawings and design information supplied by the project team, our team accurately visualised the 900 sq m structure, helping stakeholders, collaborators, and international audiences understand how the pavilion would look and feel ahead of Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Irish Pavilion drew inspiration from the ancient passage tomb at Newgrange in Co. Meath, which dates back more than 5,000 years. The design referenced the iconic roofbox feature of the monument, through which sunlight illuminates the inner chamber during the winter solstice each year. This influence shaped the pavilion’s main structure.
When Expo 2020 Dubai finally opened, the Irish Pavilion welcomed approximately 350,000 visitors and hosted over 80,000 guests across a wide range of cultural and business events, including the Riverdance at Expo residency and performances by the Expo World Choir. The pavilion showcased Ireland as a place to live, work, invest, study, and visit on a global stage.
Photographs by Propsearch.ae
Below, you can watch a short video from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade highlighting the Irish Pavilion and the wider Expo experience.
