The initial Libyan Pavilion for the Shanghai 2010 Expo failed to find favour with the Libyan Government. The governmental agency, the Engineering Consulting Office for Utilities (Ecou), was charged by the government with the task of demolishing the existing pavilion and commissioning, producing and building version two in the required timeframe. Architect Yi Ching designed the new building envelope and MET Studio was tasked with creating the new interior and exhibition.
The Libyan Pavilion, equipped with high technological audio-visual equipment, is designed to present the prosperous developments made by its time-honoured cities. It displays original sceneries of the country and the rich historical heritages and modern urban progress through innovative visual effects.
The theme for the new pavilion was ‘Beautiful Libya and so much more’. According to Alex McCuaig, MET Studio founder and chairman, the team found it an easy task to find good stories to tell about Libya. The wonderful-looking country has much vibrant and forward-thinking architecture. With an AV- and graphic-led exhibition, the team was able to talk about Libya’s past and culture, and also showcase some of the highly environmentally-conscious building programmes of the current day.
A new 360-degree AV show includes new high-definition photography of the country, shot over ten days from a helicopter by English & Co, together with ‘lighting, graphics and general wizardry’ from the team.
MET Studio, which has offices in the UK and Hong Kong, worked in association with project managers Design PM, AV company English & Co, lighting designers DHA Lighting, script writer and design journalist Aidan Walker and graphic designer Philip Simpson. MET Studio’s team consisted of Alex McCuaig, Peter Karn, Alexander McCuaig , Rick Mariotti and Diana Shayakhmetova. The project is described by MET Studio as the ‘most challenging project in company’s 28-year history’.
The 2010 Shanghai World Expo ‘Better City, Better Life’ is a scheduled World Expo in the grand tradition of international fairs and expositions. The Expo takes place from 1 May–31 October 2010. Although 190 countries are participating in the event, only 79 nations built their own pavilions.
