UAE pavilion visitors experience walk in desert city

(Milan) – Nothing was left to chance by Norman Foster + Partners. The pavilion architect’s team photographed sand dunes in the UAE to recreate the complexities of their ripples on the pavilion walls.
These photographs were used to make a series of computer-generated moulds so that eventually visitors to the UAE pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 could relive the experience of walking in a real desert city.
The planners and architects blended storytelling and creativity with the construction to make it an authentic moment.
The giant sand walls across the 140-metre site realistically capture dune ridges, creating a winding, canyon-like path for the expo audience.
(Courtesy WAM)