Expo 2020 Projects / 2022

EXPO 2020 PROJECTS / 2022

01 Sameem – Story of Our Culture 02 Majlis 03 Special Days 04 Expo Pavilions Premiere 05 Artistic Sabeel Fountain 06 Arrival Journey 07 Experience Mapping

ABDULLA ALZAROUNI

I am Abdulla Alzarouni, an Architect from the United Arab Emirates.

I started my journey with Expo 2020 Dubai in the summer of 2019 as an Intern at the Visitor Experience Integration team. I have been blessed with the opportunity to continue with the team in delivering the most memorable visitor experience to the world.

This book is a summary of the main Expo 2020 Dubai projects I have worked on from July 2019 to April 2022.

© Abdulla Alzarouni 2022

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CONTENTS 06 28 46 50 56 66 74

01 Sameem – Story of Our Culture 02 Majlis 03 Special Days 04 Expo Pavilions Premiere 05 Artistic Sabeel Fountain 06 Arrival Journey 07 Experience Mapping

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Project Manager, Pavilion Director

Sameem is an open-air pavilion that invites you to go on a journey through the mountains, desert and coast of the UAE and learn how we Emiratis have embraced the essence of our landscape to develop ingenious ways to sustain life. The pavilion strings together elements of the Emirati culture with the theme and sub-themes of Expo 2020 Dubai. Welcoming over 1.4 million visits and 25,000+ school children, the pavilion is considered one of the most popular attractions.

Played a key role in the pre-planning, project management, daily operations and legacy adaptation of the pavilion. Led the management of design consultants in the overall journey and oversaw the project from the concept phase through to the delivery and event-time operations. Managed the project timelines, budget expenditure and payment to vendors.

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Contractors: AGi Architects, KETTAL, Simmetrico, Al Shafar Interiors

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE LOCATION

The plot is located between the Sustainability District and the Culture Spine, providing a powerful parallel to narratives of Sustainability and UAE culture. Its close proximity to large pavilions such as Germany, Spain and Italy make this a prime location and a major hotspot.

UAE PAVILION

ITALY GERMANY SAMEEM SPAIN

TERRA THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION

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01 NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT - EXHIBITION ELEMENTS

An early study to identify the different tools that can be used to tell the story of UAE culture.

MAJLIS STRUCTURE

Shaded exhibition space with seating, queues, information panels, and static content. A versatile structure that can adapt to any required function.

HANDICRAFTS

Live demonstrations of traditional skills such as metal work, pottery, weaving and spinning. Serving as the primary exhibition element. All products that are made live will be gifted to curious visitors and school children.

HOMESTEADS

An authentic reconstruction of a traditional mountain, desert, and coastal home with traditional furniture and seating spaces.

FLORA & FAUNA

Indigenous flora and terrain that can be found across the UAE relevant to each landscape. Fauna such as camels, falcons and oysters to be placed in addition.

PANELS

Information panels that provide additional information as a secondary or tertiary layer to the experience, with interesting facts, images, and illustrations.

OBJECTS

Display traditional tools, equipment, models, and furniture along with their contemporary interpretations.

And to present new innovations along the exhibition to support the narrative.

EXPERT STORYTELLING

Hosts, guides, and experts who will take visitors through the journey or stand at a specific touchpoint to answer questions, tell stories, and inspire.

AUGMENTED REALITY

In collaboration with Project Parasol and Virtual Expo, the exhibition will take part in the Emirati culture storyline in their augmented reality and digital experiences.

LEGENDS & FOLKLORE

Partnering with Hamdan Heritage Center and Juma Bin Thaleth to showcase original content and little known facts about Emirati culture.

DHOW SHOWCASE

In collaboration with Saif Belqaizi Ship Building. A live construction of a 60ft Dhow going through all phases of construction during the 6-month event.

With ceremonies and dances on the dhow once completed in the final weeks.

HOSPITALITY SPACES

Traditional seating spaces where coffee and dates are served.

A lougaimat station serving free food.

Emirati dances in performance spaces (with occasional collaborations with International Participants).

BIOMIMICRY SHOWCASE

An interactive and educational micromuseum that reveal wonders of nature’s genius and how humans are tapping into those insights to create a more sustainable world content relevant to UAE flora and fauna.

AUDIO & SOUND

WORKSHOPS

Soundscapes specific to each landscape/ region in the UAE played across the plot to add another dimension to the ecosystems.

Weekly workshops with storytelling and teaching traditional handicrafts such as palm weaving.

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT - EXHIBITION LAYOUT

The project’s architectural plan and exhibition storyline were developed in parallel to provide a cohesive experience. The main narrative being ‘beyond the visible’ and the ability to see potential in what cannot be seen, in the past, present and future. The objective was to present original insights into Emirati culture and its future prospects, to encourage visitors to make new connections, and to link the UAE’s journey to a universal message - about the need to create a greater common understanding among people, our social responsibilities, and stewardship for the land.

We were able to achieve this by developing the narrative around the UAE’s main landscapes and connecting them with the themes of Expo 2020.

Mountains = Sustainability Desert = Opportunity Coast = Mobility

Homestead Desert Home Winter Tent Camels & Falcons

Majlis Structure Water story Palm story transition

Homestead Mountain Home Al Shehhi Stone House

Majlis Structure Mountains / Sustainability Content Introduction to Water Story

Mountains Landscape Indigenous flora

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Traditional Seating Al Manama or Hadhera

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Hospitality Spaces Mixed use Coffee & Dates Lougaimat

Homestead Coast Home Areesh Architecture Palm story transition

Hospitality Space Mixed use Stamp Area Dhow Showcase Live construction of a 60ft Sama’a in a traditional shipyard workshop environment

Dhow Showcase About the indigenous flora and fauna of the UAE

Majlis Structure Desert / Opportunity Content Introduction to Palm Story

Majlis Structure Coast / Mobility Content Introduction to Sea Story

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE FINAL RENDER

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE VISITOR FLOW AND CONTENT PLAN

The content plan shows the final exhibition layout with the different exhibition elements distributed across the pavilion.

The main focus of the experience being on human-interactions, hospitality and live/active displays. The space was designed as a ‘free-flow’ experience, meaning there are no dedicated entrances/exits and no specific routes to follow.

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This helped eliminate the queues and encouraged repeat visits.

For school visits and the guests that prefer a more curated experience, there were tour guides (actors that played Emirati characters) that accompanied them and took them around the routes shown below.

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SAMEEM – STORY OF OUR CULTURE

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MAJLIS

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MAJLIS PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Assistant Project Manager

The Majlis are human-scale modular spaces that combined moments for shading, resting, waiting and learning, to deliver a truly special visitor experience. They provided a unified aesthetic language for temporary structures in the public realm.

Their design was a modern interpretation of the Emirati culture, the ‘majlis’ in its function, and ‘sadu’ in its appearance. With 110no. structures across the site, their content helped the visitor navigate and interpret the site by connecting stories, messages and experiences.

Assisted the Project Director by coordinating design reviews with project stakeholders. Developed design tracker, monitored and recorded progress of design approvals. Conducted site visits in order to monitor construction progress and design quality. Undertook the review of designs, samples, and mock-ups shared by contractors and design custodians.

Presented master-plan updates to senior management.

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Contractors: AGi Architects, KETTAL, Al Shafar Interiors

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MAJLIS

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MAJLIS FUNCTION MATRIX DEVELOPMENT

A study to identify the different activities that will take place inside these structures within the public realm . This helped us better understand the parameters that determine their location and nature as well as their primary and secondary functions.

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MAJLIS KIT OF PARTS

The Majlis is a ‘kit of parts’ that can be assembled in a variety of configurations depending on spatial requirements, site conditions, function and content.

THE STRUCTURE

THE WEAVE

THE HANDRAIL

The Majlis structure is an above-ground structure designed using a modular grid with the application of three guideline shapes derived from basic Emirati Sadu patterns:

The weave is a fabric (outdoor weather-proof material) woven across the structure to create shaded areas and privacy/seclusion. The level of shade/privacy can controlled by the weave pattern and density.

The handrail is conceived not just as a queuing system, but rather as an urban language that adapts to the functional requirement. The handrail is used as seating spaces, content, queuing, and for playful moments.

THE SIGNAGE

THE FENCE

THE PALE-RAIL

The balloon-shaped sign is used to identify each Majlis function to the visitor with large visible pictograms.

The fence uses the Majlis kit-of-parts to create an aesthetically pleasing fence that continues the same urban language.

The pale-rail is a portable barrier/handrail. It is an alternative to ‘The Handrail’ and is primarily used as a temporary solution where required.

Triangle, Circle, Square The infinite combinations of these patterns allow for a unique appearance for each Majlis. With the simple geometry, a design system has been developed and followed when designing each space.

An example is the entrance spaces, all entrances are signified using taller structures with arches.

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02 TYPOLOGY CATALOGUE

There are 16 different Majlis typologies, each serving a unique purpose within the public realm, with different variations or configurations.

Gate

Station

Discovery 1

Discovery 2

Expo Live Discovery

Cultural

Media Platform

Smoking Area 1

Smoking Area 2

Smoking Area 3

Rest Area 1

Rest Area 2

Totem

Facade

Adjacent

Information

Buggy

Arts and Crafts

School Feeding Area

Wheelchair & Stroller Parking

BOH Fence

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MAJLIS MASTERPLAN

After an in-depth analysis of the site conditions and experience requirements, each location was coordinated and reviewed with the relevant project stakeholders. The below is a high level masterplan of each approved location.

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MAJLIS M01 GATE TYPOLOGY - PLAN & 3D (EXAMPLE)

The below M01 typology (Gate) drawings are used as an example to show the design development process. The Gate Majlis are placed in front of the Visitor Centers with the objective of enhancing the queuing experience, providing amenities such as seating, children play areas, shaded spaces, and curated content about the Expo site.

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MAJLIS RENDERS

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MAJLIS

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SPECIAL DAYS

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SPECIAL DAYS PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Experience Lead

Celebrations held across the Expo 2020 Dubai site honouring important events with special programming, social media posts, local and international media coverage, temporary dressing of the public realm, fun giveaways and entertainment. Typically with the involvement of Expo 2020 partners and International Participants.

Acted as the single point of contact for all visitor facing issues and decisions. Supported with the development of the event plan, programme and procurement of vendors. Coordinated requirements with external stakeholders.

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Golden Jubilee Campaign, UAE National Day, Hamdan Heritage Center Camel Trek, Haq Al Laila

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EXPO PAVILIONS PREMIERE

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EXPO PAVILIONS PREMIERE PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Zone Experience Manager

The Expo Pavilions Premiere was the debut of the Thematic Pavilions (Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, and Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion) before Expo officially opened on 1 October 2021.

There were also additional events, entertainment, and installations to enhance the site during the preview. The event was also used as a test-event for workforce to prepare for the main 6-month event.

Led the development of the masterplan drawing, and consulted other functions with the placement of installations on the public realm. Proactively monitored the visitor experience during this event and worked collaboratively with other functions to ensure quality was upheld. Accountable for the Sustainability and Al Wasl zones while providing support to the other zones. Conducted site visits to assess the visitor experience and usage of the public realm and identified issues, opportunities, or redesign requirements for the main event.

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EXPO PAVILIONS PREMIERE TEST-EVENT MASTERPLAN

The partial opening masterplan below is an internal live document that tracks all temporary solutions used in the testevent as well as some permanent installations/signs.

The one shown here is of the Sustainability District. The areas highlighted in green are the walkable front-of-house spaces.

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ARTISTIC SABEEL FOUNTAIN

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ARTISTIC SABEEL FOUNTAIN PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Architectural Assistant

Sabeel public drinking water fountains symbolise the UAE tradition of hospitality and generosity. The Sabeel fountains carry a strong sustainability message and highlight the role of water as a fundamental public good. They feature original designs from regional and local artists, and offer free filtered and chilled drinking water to visitors. They are intended to live on in District 2020 to continue the tradition of hospitality. The fountain highlighted below was an Artistic Sabeel Fountain designed by artist Dana Awartani, named ‘The Well’.

Supported the Project Manager and Artist with actualising a hand drawn concept design into a functional, constructible design that is accessible for all visitor types (adults, children and people of determination). Developed technical drawings and architectural details with 2D and 3D visuals to assist with the development of the design and final location.

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Contractors: Dana Awartani, Proscape

05 DANA AWARTANI CONCEPT SUBMISSION

Dana Sketch (Brief)

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ARTISTIC SABEEL FOUNTAIN

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05 FINAL RENDERS

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ARTISTIC SABEEL FOUNTAIN

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05 FINAL TILE DESIGN

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ARTISTIC SABEEL FOUNTAIN

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05 TECHNICAL DRAWINGS

Drawings for the drinking water fountain that illustrate the positioning of the water chamber and the water supply route.

Additionally, below is a detailed section drawing of the water cooler and the drinking fountain.

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ARRIVAL JOURNEY

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ARRIVAL JOURNEY PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Project Lead

An urban study of the four main arrival points at the Expo 2020 site, starting from the parking area and ending at the welcoming plaza. The objective was to identify gaps and inconsistencies in the arrival/departure journey of all visitor types. The study takes into account the types of transportation to and from the Expo site, the walking distances, the peak hours and queuing times, and the services provided in each location. This study was used by the operations team to plan for expected crowds and traffic accordingly, and was proven to be accurate during event-time.

Undertook research exercise to develop an urban and experiential study to provide site intelligence to the entire Expo 2020 organisation. Coordinated with various Expo departments to create a ‘single source of truth’ document - where various studies are collated and continuously updated. Worked closely with Overlay, Crowd Modelling, Transport, Operations, Site Delivery, Guest Services, Licensing & Retail, Security, Programming, Concessions, Ticketing, Waste Management and Venue Management.

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ARRIVAL JOURNEY SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM - PRIMARY JOURNEY FILTER

The schematic diagram has different layers of information.

This allows the reader to filter through, making it more digestible and allows them to find what they are after more easily. The information on the drawing below is filtered down to the Primary Journey, these are the touchpoints that the average visitor must go through to be able to enter the site.

On the top right are the Sustainability, Mobility, and Metro arrival points respectively, similarly filtered.

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ARRIVAL JOURNEY SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM - JOURNEY DECISIONS FILTER

The information on the drawing below is filtered down to the Journey Decisions. This shows additional services available to visitors before and after entering the site.

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EXPERIENCE MAPPING

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EXPERIENCE MAPPING PROJECT SUMMARY

ROLE Project Support

Experience Mapping is an exercise in “mapping out” all of the experiences that visitors will encounter during their time in the Expo 2020 site. These are touch-points that range from meeting basic needs of access, rest, and information to moments of fun, learning, interaction, and discovery. Experience Mapping is a tool for comprehending the quality of the experiences on our site while discovering gaps and proactively curating visitor experiences and journeys.

Assisted with mapping all projects across the site in order to identify gaps, opportunities and risks. Provided the organisation with updated site intelligence and developed a tool for creating and connecting different types of journeys and experiential moments throughout the Expo event.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS 01 06 08 09 10 11 12 14 15 26 30 31 32 33 44 46 48 49 53 56 58 60 62 66 78 81

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Katarina Premfors Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Katarina Premfors, Giuseppe Cacace Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre, Alaaeldin Elsherbiny David Koriako Katarina Premfors The National, Walaa Alshaer Alaaeldin Elsherbiny Alaaeldin Elsherbiny Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre Mahmoud Khaled Christopher Pike Christopher Pike, Christophe Viseux Dany Eid Suneesh Sudhakaran Suneesh Sudhakaran Suneesh Sudhakaran Alaaeldin Elsherbiny Dany Eid Christopher Pike Katarina Premfors, Aaron Castillo

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS With special thanks to the Visitor Experience Integration team, the Sameem Pavilion team, and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy.

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abdulla@alzarouni.com +971 50 951 9555 Dubai, United Arab Emirates © Abdulla Alzarouni 2022

© Abdulla Alzarouni 2022