WTI Magazine #56    2015 March, 20
Author : Expo 2015      Translation by:

Exhibition site: Cardo and Decumano
In many modern cities, the cross, typical of the roman camp – or castrum – is still evident as the form of the town. It was a distinctive perpendicular shape and the two street crossings were known as the Cardo and the Decumano. This shape has been the inspiration for the building of the Expo Milano 2015 Exposition Site. This very simple shape was chosen with the aim of helping visitors find their directions through events and shows, and participant countries as they display their products.

Decumano
The main street, the Decumano, crosses the whole site from east to west for one and a half kilometers. On either side of the Decumano, are the national pavilions of the participant countries, and of 130, around 60 will develop a self-built pavilion. All others will be inside a Cluster. Symbolically the Decumano connects to the place where food is consumed (the city) and the place where food is produced (the countryside).

Cardo
As the other main street that crosses the Decumano, the Cardo is 350 meters long. It connects the exposition site from the north to the south where theItalian pavilion is located. In this area, called Palazzo Italia, all the cultures andtraditions, typical of the Italian food industry, are showcased.

VIRTUAL TOUR: EXPLORE IN 3D THE CARDO

Piazza Italia
This will be the main square where the two main streets will cross, acting as a symbolic place where Italy meets the rest of the world. At the four extremities of the Cardo and the Decumano are some of the most important structures ofExpo Milano 2015: the Mediterranean Hill, the Expo Center, the Open Air Theater and the Lake Arena. These landmarks offer visitors a sense of direction and create locations for hosting some of the biggest Expo events.

VIRTUAL TOUR: EXPLORE IN 3D PIAZZA ITALIA

Thematic areas: Pavilion Zero

Curated by Davide Rampello and designed by Michele de Lucchi, Pavilion Zero provides an introduction to the Expo Milano 2015 Site. Pavilion Zero takes the visitor on a captivating journey to explore how much humankind has produced, the transformation of natural landscape, and the culture and rituals of food consumption.

VIRTUAL TOUR: EXPLORE IN 3D THE PAVILION ZERO

Pavilion Zero according to Davide Rampello and Michele de Lucchi

What story does it tell?
Davide Rampello: We wanted to tell a story which begins from the earliest period of human history, through symbols and myths, the different stages of evolution and man's relationship with Nature – the domestication of animals and plants, and the introduction of tools to work the land and conserve food. The story ends with the current paradox regarding nutrition. A fascinating journey that turns a universal story into an individual one.

Can you give us three reasons to visit?
D.R.: To learn, share and feel.

What is your vision of the future?
D.R.: According to Agostino's vision, past, present and future all co-exist in the soul. The present of the past is the memory, the present of the present is the vision and the present of the future is the waiting. The aim of the journey in this pavilion is to create the need to go towards something new, something different in the future.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Michele De Lucchi: The shape of Pavilion Zero represents a part of the earth's crust lifted up and placed in a prominent position. It reproduces the outline of the land with mountains, hills and a great central valley. The direct inspiration comes from the shape of the Euganean Hills located between the cities of Padua and Vicenza. The warm waters emerging from the Albano and Montegrotto Terme are proof of the shallow magma movements that create such a striking natural landscape.

How did you interpret the theme?
M.D.L.: The scenography is the main protagonist of this area, accompanying visitors as they explore the Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life theme. Pavilion Zero offers a travel experience into the earth's crust, via caves that have been rebuilt in almost total darkness, where at the center there is the "valley of civilization".

In what way do you communicate with visitors?
M.D.L.: Visitors will have the novel experience of visiting the inside of the planet to learn about it from a new perspective. We are used to discussing the health of the planet in terms of air quality, the ozone and the soil, but we neglect the earth's crust, dark and impenetrable, of which we know very little.