EXPO UBPA MADRID PAVILION REFURBISHMENT

UBPA (Urban Best Practices Area) is the urban development following the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, set to improve the architecture and public space originally built to host the exhibition. Both the World Expo and UBPA boost a renewed Shanghai international atmosphere and creativity in terms of culture and design.

During Expo2010 the Madrid Pavilion used to host administrative offices for the Spanish Expo delegation. The original function has been converted into a mixed use space with commercial facilities at the ground floor and creative offices above. The building also received a completely new energy-saving facade design that, while preserving the original concept, gives a more elaborate and elegant make-up to the building.

The new facade is composed by a series of sliding panels along the four sides of the building that give shade to the balconies and to the inner elevation of the building. The panels are of two kinds: one is a simple wooden shading element based on the looks and the function of old shanghainese traditional windows; the second one is composed by a glazed surface that integrates a photovoltaic technology generating electricity for the building and reducing the overall energy consumption of the building.