The upbeat nature of World’s Fairs is what I like best. My second favourite aspect is the uniqueness.
Each World’s Fair is different and only happens once. Most, like Dubai only last six months.
Before the Fair, nothing exists. No buildings, not even roads. After the Fair, most of the buildings are destroyed. Usually only one or two structures remain. Famous examples are the Seattle Needle, the Brussels Atomium, the Unisphere in New York, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Very few pavilions are preserved. Two well-known exceptions are the Carousel of Progess and It’s a Small World. Both premiered at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and were then moved to Disneyland.
Similarly, Expo 2020 will close forever in four weeks. The El Wasi Plaza will stay. Almost everything else is destined to be torn down and replaced with residential apartments. The Metro station will remain and service the residents of the new community.
Because each building is designed for a single purpose, each one is unique. I intentionally avoid studying the sites in advance. As I enter a building, I have no idea what to expect. Many have huge multimedia presentations, showcasing their country. They highlight countrysides, fields, mountains, rivers, beaches, cities, the people, the industries, and the culture. The displays might be on the ceiling or under you feet. You might be surrounded by a 360° screen. Or, you might just see an exhibit of artifacts from their country.
You might walk through a rain forest.
One pavilion hands each guest a gadget that activates displays as they walk by.
One handed each guest an umbrella. At one point they had each guest stand on a set of footprints, then instructed us to open the umbrella. Projectors high in the roof projected a dazzling display of colors into each umbrella. You looked up at your umbrella to see the display.
Several pavilions have musicians playing. Many have rooftop gardens where bands play in the cooler evenings. (Day time is hot!)
You never know what’s going to happen when you enter the doors.
To me, the anticipation of originality is exciting!
I love being able to vicariously visit a hundred different countries in an ephemeral setting that will never exist again!
Each World’s Fair is different and only happens once. Most, like Dubai only last six months.
Before the Fair, nothing exists. No buildings, not even roads. After the Fair, most of the buildings are destroyed. Usually only one or two structures remain. Famous examples are the Seattle Needle, the Brussels Atomium, the Unisphere in New York, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Very few pavilions are preserved. Two well-known exceptions are the Carousel of Progess and It’s a Small World. Both premiered at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and were then moved to Disneyland.
Similarly, Expo 2020 will close forever in four weeks. The El Wasi Plaza will stay. Almost everything else is destined to be torn down and replaced with residential apartments. The Metro station will remain and service the residents of the new community.
Because each building is designed for a single purpose, each one is unique. I intentionally avoid studying the sites in advance. As I enter a building, I have no idea what to expect. Many have huge multimedia presentations, showcasing their country. They highlight countrysides, fields, mountains, rivers, beaches, cities, the people, the industries, and the culture. The displays might be on the ceiling or under you feet. You might be surrounded by a 360° screen. Or, you might just see an exhibit of artifacts from their country.
You might walk through a rain forest.
One pavilion hands each guest a gadget that activates displays as they walk by.
One handed each guest an umbrella. At one point they had each guest stand on a set of footprints, then instructed us to open the umbrella. Projectors high in the roof projected a dazzling display of colors into each umbrella. You looked up at your umbrella to see the display.
Several pavilions have musicians playing. Many have rooftop gardens where bands play in the cooler evenings. (Day time is hot!)
You never know what’s going to happen when you enter the doors.
To me, the anticipation of originality is exciting!
I love being able to vicariously visit a hundred different countries in an ephemeral setting that will never exist again!
