French Pavilion, at Expo 2010 Shanghai

A French garden in the centre and a square building on a water body. The 6,000 m² building is quadrangle-shaped and lies on a water body. The idea? “Evoke nature in the city” explained Jacques Ferrier. A garden is planted vertically in the centre of the pavilion. A 250-seat auditorium beside two haute cuisine restaurants will also be built in the pavilion. The exhibition will be given over to the five senses, balance and movement. In this context, the structure design must make room for a staging aspect. The exterior grid also provides bracing for the whole of the construction. Inside the structure unfolds across a mast-beam system which frees up room to set up the spaces. The structure analysis work was carried out in collaboration with Professor Victor Davidovici for the seismic analysis for the construction.