Monaco's impressive contribution to World Expo 2015 By Madeleine Adey

The construction of Monaco’s impressive pavilion has begun in preparation for the 2015 World Expo in Milan. Monaco will be one of 144 countries represented at the expo, which will focus on the way in which food unites people of different cultures and religions, as well as the profound concerns it raises. The design is particularly impressive and echoes the theme of the expo of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.’ The Italian architect who designed the pavilion, Enrico Pollini, based it on three themes: shipping containers, transport and storage elements. The sloping grass roof garden represents the landscape of the south east of France, where the mountains descend towards the sea. The inside of the pavilion will house recycled wooden crates forming a kind of 'ideas workhouse' with 11 distinct stations. Each station will represent an environmental topic, such as sustainable fishing, deforestation, the surge in jellyfish numbers and ocean acidification, for example. There will also be services including a restaurant, as well as a VIP lounge and terrace for private visitors. The event, which will begin in May 2015 and end in October, is a non-commercial universal exposition held every five years, attracting millions of visitors who are able to explore pavilions, exhibitions and cultural events put on by hundreds of participants including nations, international organisations and businesses. The interests of the event do not lie only with the participants and visitors, however. Each expo aims to have a wider impact on cultural, social and environmental transformation, leaving behind a positive legacy not only for the country in which it is held but hopefully for the rest of the world. This year’s theme will therefore explore the problems surrounding nutrition alongside the resources of our planet, with the aim of opening up a global dialogue to exchange views on these extremely relevant issues. The Monaco Times