Finland's Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

The Finnish Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai showcases the country’s deep connection with nature and sustainability, contributing to its high quality of life. Titled “Snow Cape”, the pavilion designed by JKMM Architects subtly evokes Finnish natural settings through materiality and atmosphere while embodying the principles of circular economy championed by the Nordic country. The structure with its tent-like entrance creates a point of commonality, reminding of Finland’s nomadic heritage, as well as the Arabic text.

Photography by Marc Goodwin

Upon entering the pavilion, the clean, white façade made of tensioned industrial fabric is contrasted by the hard granite floor tiles, which, together with shallow water pools, echo the Finnish landscape, while the interior is stripped down of any unnecessary claddings, minimising the use of materials. The exhibition space features a looping 53-metre long film display illustrating nature and technology interweaving within the day-to-day life in Finland, which rank first in the World Happiness Report for 4 consecutive years.

Photography by Marc Goodwin

” In designing the pavilion, we sought to bring a fragment of Finnish nature to UAE and Dubai. The pavilion was inspired by the thin white layer of first snow that covers the Finnish landscape at the beginning of winter. In Finnish, it is called ‘Lumi’, which means snow. The main entrance was inspired by a traditional Arabic tent. Two cultures meet in the architectural concept of the pavilion. Hopefully, this will be the best space in Expo for meeting face-to-face.- Teemu Kurkela, Founder and Creative Partner at JKMM Architects ”

Photography by Marc Goodwin

The circular economy imperatives have informed the construction of the pavilion, for which the majority of the materials were sourced locally, thus reducing the environmental impact of transportation. Moreover, the design took into consideration the structure’s life after the Expo, with the project set to remain in place for an additional five years, after which it will be dismantled and its materials recycled or reused.

Photography by Marc Goodwin

More Innovations at Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai started October 1st, 2020, and will last six months till the end of March 2022. The masterplan of the World Expo is created by HOK, and it features three Thematic Districts designed by Hopkins Architects that follow the three main themes of Expo 2020 Dubai; Sustainability, Opportunity, and Mobility, with an aim of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

The long-awaited international event showcases architectural works designed by high-profile firms from around the world, including The Sustainability Pavilion by Grimshaw Architects, The UAE and Qatar Pavilions created by Santiago Calatrava, and the Monumental Gates of Expo 2020 Dubai designed by Asif Khan.

Much like the Spanish Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai features out-of-the-box ideas, including The UK Pavilion by Es Devlin that uses Artificial Intelligence to create poems and display them on the structure’s facade. You can check here Arch2O’s list of the 10 must-see pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Throughout the six months duration of the Expo, the Spanish Pavilion will host a total of 32 companies, more than 200 artists, and around 100 performances to showcase the Spanish culture in Dubai.

Project Info :
Architect: JKMM Architects
Photography : Marc Goodwin
Location : Expo 2020 , Dubai , UAE