Final Story of a Series
Expo 2012 (http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng/main.asp) held in Yeosu Korea will allow visitors to experience diverse and plentiful themes where designated exhibition rooms have been prepared apart from the exhibition halls, which distinguishes this event from other international expos.
The designated spaces are used to exhibit the given themes which consist of Big-O, Marine Experience Park, and Expo Digital Gallery (EDG), which will become the central place of the exposition by making innovative use of the natural and geographical conditions present at the site.
Big-O and Marine Experience Park
Big-O is the world's first special event venue to be built on the sea, and it is going to be established alongside the seafront of Yeosu Shinhang. It will be a future-forward and organic space where visitors experience 'Life of the Ocean and Coast' and also where main events, marine performances, cultural events, and new-media shows are staged.
Far from the old concept of exhibition halls, Big-O will project large-scale and innovative exhibition techniques to the outdoor space and natural environment.
Expo Digital Gallery (EDG)
EDG is the central avenue of the exhibition, which continues from Yeosu's old downtown to the KTX station. A ubiquitous marine culture center that integrates state-of-art IT, artistic lighting, etc., The gallery, 600m long and 30m wide, will be established across the international pavilions, and is the first of its kind to be built in the open space. The avenue will represent the imagined future of the year 2050 by adopting cutting-edge technologies and marine artworks; additionally, after the Expo, it will be used for stimulating the city's vibrant culture scene.
Main Exhibition Facilities
Main exhibition facilities within the center will be built separately for the host country and participating countries. As a BIE-approved exhibition, it will comply with relevant regulations taking into account operation, services, location, access to outer space, the visitors' paths, and post-Expo utilization, etc., the facilities are scattered within the international exhibition area.
Theme Pavilion: marine construction representing the city, coast, and ocean
The pavilion for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea was built based on a design called One Ocean, winner of a heated competition which took place among 136 teams from 31 countries.
The Pavilion is the core facility of the Expo as it represents the theme 'Life of the Ocean and Coast', as well as 'blue economy' and the 'union of humankind and the sea' in a holistic manner.
Sub-theme Pavilions
Three subtopics - development and preservation of the ocean and coast, new resources technology, and creative marine activities - will be expressed in four pavilions within EDG: Marine Life Pavilion (Aquarium), Climate and Environment Pavilion, Marine Industry and Technology Pavilion, and Marine Civilization/City Pavilion.
The sub-theme pavilions will surround the Big-O so that visitors can enjoy various ocean-related experiences throughout the Expo site. The marine art exhibition, in particular, will be created using the digital technologies of EDG.
Korea Pavilion: the world's first carbon-free exhibition hall
Projecting the visions of Korea's marine technology and also as a tribute to the future of humanity, Korea Pavilion represents a green development of the new ocean, and will become the world's first carbon-free exhibition hall. Even after the Expo, the Pavilion will remain a permanent construction to convey the message of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.
International Pavilion: harmony and coexistence of the five Oceans
Over 100 participating countries will prepare for the exhibition at this pavilion, divided into individual and joint exhibition halls, where they will embody the theme of coexistence and cooperation. The exhibitions will be clustered according to each ocean to express the harmony and coexistence of the five oceans.
The International Pavilion is designed to represent a small island on the sea, and will be constructed by using state-of-art building material as well as environmentally-friendly elements such as solar power and a Bernoulli natural ventilation system which features a wavy roof to aid in this function.
Marine Life Pavilion (Aquarium): view of the marine life
The gross floor area is16,400m² and total of 6,030 tons of water in the aquarium tank, the Marine Life Pavilion (Aquarium) is comprised of an Aqua Museum, Coastal Life, and Marine Life, etc.
While providing a tool for researchers on a wide range of subjects including specie conservation and farming technologies for institutions such as the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the Pavilion will supposedly house endangered species like the Beluga whale, Baikal seal, and a Sea dragon, which cannot be seen at a commercial aquarium.
Other Exhibition Facilities: Expo for participation and network
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will also act as a platform to promote global, local, private, and public participation in the Expo, by adding international organizations and non-governmental organizations, local governments, and corporations.
The event facilities that will be run at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea include Sky Tower (built with recycled soil), Waterfront Plaza, an open theater, and a pocket stage (small outdoor theater), all of which will provide spectacle and exciting experience for the visitors.
Taking into account the particularities of the marine exposition, the facilities will be built in a strong and safe structure which is able to withstand wind, rain, storm, etc., without losing artistic qualities.
