Category: World Expos
Year: 2015
Location: Milan, Italy
Totems is responsible for the concept & design of the Holland Pavilion, a cooperation with long-term partners Gielissen Interiors & Exhibitions and DVP Europe Eventmarketing.
The theme “Share, Grow, Live” represents the Dutch culture and its food-industry from research and production to distribution and consumption. The pavilion has an open setup with a total size of 20x120 m. It has a very central position on the Expo site, with the Italian, French and Vatican pavilions as immediate neighbours.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2012
Location: Venlo, The Netherlands
An overwhelming impression of surrealistic flora with great organic gestures welcomes the visitors of Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo.
Visitors who pass the Pedestrian-bridge over the motorway will have a clear view at this surrealistic presentation of nature, which is shown within the event area. Upon entering the atrium, the humble feeling to be surrounded by the overwhelming flora is what the visitors will experience. They are immersed by the theme and to continue their tour they pass through the doors of this surrealistic environment into the true art of gardening.
Our idea is to provoke astonishment among the visitors, so that their eyes will be opened and to be aware of the Floriade experience. To discover its diversity. The great organic-shaped gestures provide a break with the surrealistic nature but it also changes the perspective to have a closer examination of these elements.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2012
Location: Yeosu, South Korea
As part of our daily life in the Netherlands, the water that constantly surrounds us, has formed us over the years and placed us in a unique position, worldwide; both in landscape and in technical ability. Using the Dutch sailor Hendrick Hamel, the Korean visitor is introduced to our history and the Delta of our Land of Water.
From the ground it is hard to grasp and experience the scale and form of our Dutch Delta. But from the sky, on satellite images or just looking down onto a map, it becomes clear. This is why the map of the Netherlands is central to the Pavilion. In theme, but also physical. When the visitors enter the map in the Main Show space, they become surrounded by an immersive, audio-visual experience, which takes them into the Dutch.
To create context for the local Korean visitor, the audio-visual map is preceded by an introduction. Hendrick Hamel, a Dutch Sailor from the Golden Age and famous in Korea, welcomes the visitor into the pre-show area, themed around the 16th Century, when the Netherlands put itself -and the World- on the map.
The post-show offers exhibits focussed on Dutch Technology and innovations in the field of international water management projects. Here running and realized Dutch projects from all over the world are shown. Finally the visitor passes by a shop filled with innovative Dutch Design products.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2012
Location: Yeosu, South Korea
Algeria possesses a rich culture and a unique geographic position, wedged between sea and desert. Inspired by the architecture of a monument-Villa in Algiers, the Algerian Pavilion takes the visitors on a journey to discover the beauty of the country and its culture, geography and economic potential of the region.
The Algerian pavilion is inspired by „Le Centre des arts et de la Culture du Palais des Rais“ [Bastion 23], a monument on the Bay of Algiers. The centre of the pavilion is also the traditional plaza of the Villa, from where one can wander through the various spaces, which exhibit themes of economy, tradition and history. The orientation of the pavilion is focused on the two oceans of water and sand: the south looks towards the Sahara, the north side offers an outdoor terrace view. This is the place of the Main Show cinematic experience. Here the visitor is taken through a story in which a grandfather takes his granddaughter (and the visitor) by the hand in a journey through his beautiful country.
On the second floor, along the Atrium, are the commissioner offices and the VIP lounge, which also looks down onto the Main Show.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2012
Location: Yeosu, South Korea
Welcome to Belgium, by the Sea!
In the Belgian pavilion, the visitor is taken to a small carnival, an annual fair at the Belgian coast. Walking along carousels, one is immersed in a rich cultural history, but of course there is also a prominent spot for diamonds and chocolate.
When entering the pavilion, visitors walk along the “ticket booth” and then stand in an area surrounded by a wooden fence. In the far corner it is open, towards the sea; it shows a fantastic panorama of the Belgian coast: dunes and grass waving, beautiful sandy beaches and the tempestuous North Sea is visible. Within the fence one is surrounded by old-fashioned carousels and so called ‚pepper-caster‘ poster cylinders.
The large carousel recounts the history, but also the current culture of Belgium. After a meeting with old masters, famous athletes and fashion designers, the visitors enjoy the works of “Master Chocolatiers” at the Chocolate Carousel. Then the diamonds carousel tells about how the Belgians have become the world‘s best diamond polishers, culminating in a golden racquet encrusted with hundreds of diamonds.
A visit to the fair is not complete without Belgian Fries, Brussels Waffles, Ice Cream and Chocolate. The visit ends therefore in the thematic restaurant and souvenir shop.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2008
Location: Zaragoza, Spain
Wonderful World of Water
The Federal Republic of Germany was represented at the Expo Zaragoza 2008 from 14 June to 14 September 2008 with a pavilion dedicated to water. Based on the motto ‘water and sustainable development’, a typical water cycle represented the central focus for Germany’s participation. On a futuristic sort of raft, visitors could explore the wonderful world of water. Totems was hired by Hamburg Messe & Congress to design the German Pavilion in cooperation with Reinecke New Media.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2008
Location: Zaragoza, Spain
Building with Nature
From 14 June to 14 September 2008, the Netherlands was represented with its own pavilion at the EXPO Zaragoza 2008 in Spain. The central focus of the pavilion was the country’s ever-present resource, water. We framed a piece of a polder landscape and used it as the pavilion’s main spatial feature. We presented it as an abstract form and let it function as a podium for the multimedia experience. After entering the pavilion visitors were led through different thematic presentations, up to the entrance of the projection room.
Category: World Expos
Year: 2005
Location: Aichi, Japan
Land of Water
Concept and media installation for Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. Awarded a gold medal by the Bureau International des Expositions for its interpretation of the Expo 2005 theme, Nature’s Wisdom.