From AI to Dubai, Exhibition World turns attention on the latest and greatest of venues and exhibitions worldwide, as featured in the January 2018 edition of EW.
1. Dubai’s Expo 2020
Hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to be staged in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region in the 167-year history of the event. Themed ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, it is set to run for six months, from 20 October 2020-10 April 2021.
The 4.3msqm Expo site is situated in Dubai South. Over 180 countries are expected to participate, with 25m visits over the six months. The World Expo is expected to result in long-term economic benefit for the countzry and region and will leave a legacy ‘development city’, District 2020, which opens after Expo finishes (late 2021/early 2022).
2 . East Asia Expansion
Listing ‘MICE’; ‘exhibition’; and ‘Concert’ among its list of specialities on LinkedIn, Japan-based government agency, Aichi Prefecture, is forging ahead with plans to launch the Aichi International Exhibition Center (AIEC) in September 2019.
Home to the agency’s HQ, central-based Tokoname City is one of Japan’s six most important ancient kiln towns – making it an ideal go-to destination, beckoning history and art enthusiasts worldwide. Covering a total area of 60,000sqm, the Aichi International Exhibition Center is one of the largest such sites in Japan. Walking distance from the Chubu Centrair International Airport – one of Japan’s busiest – the venue brings together the best of both in business and leisure ventures.
3. Development in Downtown Midland
With a heritage dating back to the 1980s, the new Midland Convention Center is scheduled to open for business on 15 September 2019. Design highlights incorporate expanding the exhibit hall (from 1,161sqm to 1,858sqm), adding 278.8sqm more meeting space and a further 557.5sqm of ballroom / larger meeting room space. Additional developments and/or improvements include lobby and pre-function spaces and the ability to host multiple large and small events occurring simultaneously.
4. 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale
The 16th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 26 May-25 November 2018 (Preview 24-25 May) in Venice’s Giardini and Arsenale (two main locations) as well as other venues in Venice.
Curators Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara titled the theme of Biennale Architettura 2018 as ‘Freespace’, which “Celebrates architecture’s capacity to find additional and unexpected generosity in each project….”
Encouraging and cultivating new ways of thinking about the world – the ubiquitous message of ‘Freespace’ is explored in the dynamic designs of the pavilions present at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Farrell and McNamara are both principals at Dublin-based Grafton Architects – Grafton’s Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) building (pictured) won the inaugural 2016 RIBA International Prize. Among the ‘must-sees’ at this year’s biennale is the Danish pavilion.
5 . Machine learning
The recent Artificial Intelligence – enabling machines to learn exhibition at No8 Fitzroy Street, London aimed to raise awareness of what AI with Machine Learning is today, its challenges and promises for tomorrow, and what this means for the individual, industry and society at large.
The exhibition’s four zones highlighted collaborations with Arup’s Inspire, Ambi, Comfy, Autodesk, Google Creative Lab, Mamou-Mani Architects, NVIDIA, TED and IBM Watson and Yarn. The exhibition also included ‘DNA of Making’, the winning entry for 2017 of No.8@arup competition.
“The exhibition goes beyond common place clichés and truly explores the reality of AI with Machine Learning,” said Alvise Simondetti, guest curator and member of Arup’s Foresight, Research and Innovation team.
6. English Expansion
The new Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre (FIECC) boasts a 20,000sqm exhibition and conference facility and includes a new 12,500sqm exhibition hall, which can be divided into three sections with movable partition walls.
Purpose built seminar rooms are close to the show floor, and the modular layout provides room for exhibitions to grow year-on-year.
As the destination for the biennial Farnborough International Airshow, the site has steadily expanded its portfolio over the last decade. This new purpose-built facility allows for more conferences, meetings, exhibitions and events to take place at Farnborough in northeast Hampshire, England.
Events at the new venue include the Disabled Living Show (Kidz to Adultz) and Merchandise World.
