Following the China Pavilion, the International Pavilion, another iconic building of the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition (Beijing Expo 2019), was officially unveiled to the public on Wednesday. With its striking feature of 94 steel-structure flower umbrellas, the International Pavilion blends harmoniously into the scenery along the Guishui Lake.

94 steel structure umbrellas all installed

According to the construction contractor Beijing Urban Construction Group, the International Pavilion has a total construction area of 22,000 square meters and stands together with the China Pavilion and the Performance Center along the Guishui Lake to form the core architectural complex of the expo park.

The International Pavilion has two levels above ground, and is divided into two exhibition areas in the north and south connected by a skybridge. Gentle rays of light travel through the glass gaps of the flower petal ceilings to illuminate the exhibition hall, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for visitors.

The 94 ivory-colored flower umbrellas are made up of steel columns and cantilevered steel beams, each with an average weight of about 30 tons. Based on their respective functions in the building, the umbrellas are divided into two categories: exhibition hall roof umbrellas and public space umbrellas. The exhibition hall roof umbrellas cover the main structure and function as the ceilings of the exhibition hall, while the public space umbrellas cover the surrounding area of the main structure of the building, providing shade for visitors. The umbrellas will be lit up at night during the expo to form a beautiful sea of flowers.

Ingenious design under the umbrellas

In addition to its beautiful appearance, the International Pavilion presents more environment-friendly design features, using smart technologies to highlight the theme of Beijing Expo 2019.

Considering the weather conditions in Yanqing district during the winter, the design of the steel flower umbrellas included snow-melting cables on top of each petal and rain pipes within the column of each flower, which allows water to be stored in the collection system and recycled for future use. Photovoltaic films are also laid on top of the petals, which store solar energy during the day to provide auxiliary power for the night operation of the building.

Due to differences in foundational conditions, the absolute heights of the flower umbrellas differ, ranging from 23.56 meters to 17.56 meters, according to a person in charge of the construction. In order to have the 94 gigantic flower umbrellas precisely hoisted to different positions, establishing each flower umbrella needs to go through several steps such as building the operations platform, positioning the column of the flower umbrella, assembling the main steel beam, assembling the components, welding, lifting, etc.

International Pavilion to welcome visitors from across the globe

Construction and installation of the International Pavilion's main structures, roof, facade, curtain wall, and interior decoration are nearing the end. Work is turning to the electromechanical installation and trial run, as well as the construction of the supporting pipelines. During the Beijing Expo, the International Pavilion will serve as an indoor exhibition venue for participating countries, regions and horticultural organizations in the international arena.

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