From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, the world will be watching Dubai. 192 countries gather here for the Expo and use their impressive pavilions to present themselves to the over 25 million expected visitors. As sustainability is one of the Expo’s main focuses, KNX, the world’s leading technical standard for home and building automation, plays a major role at the world exhibition.
“Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”
Ideas, inventions and innovations, and the dialogue between the nations are the core concerns of the Expo, which is being held in the Arab region for the first time in its 170-year history. The 35th Expo focuses on sustainability, mobility and opportunity. The slogan of the world exhibition – “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” – also fits KNX: the technology of the future already connects entire cities, infrastructures and smart buildings, with millions of installations around the globe. So, the world’s leading technical standard for home and building automation could not be left out at Expo Dubai either. KNX enhances the pavilions of numerous countries with a variety of smart functions ranging from HVAC systems to lighting solutions with human-centric approach, smart presence detectors and architectural lighting with sun tracking controls, among many other solutions.
Al Wasl Plaza: the central hub
Al Wasl Plaza, with a diameter of 150 metres, is at the heart of the Expo, equipped with a lighting and air conditioning system based on KNX. Al Wasl Plaza is the pavilion of the host nation, the United Arab Emirates, and also functions as the central hub for the world exhibition. The plaza, bearing the historical name of Dubai, is crowned by a 65-metre-high, translucent dome in the form of the Expo logo, which serves as an immersive 360-degree projection surface.
“Opportunity Pavilion”: an interplay of light, shadow and colour
By using KNX thermostats, among other devices, the KNX system ensures the perfect climatic conditions in the “Opportunity Pavilion”, the roof of which hovers 32 metres above the ground, like a cloud. Various KNX functions also enable the impressive lighting effects of the “Opportunity Pavilion”, resulting from the interplay of transparency, light, shadow and colour.
Belarus’ pavilion: KNX in the forest of technology
As a future technology, KNX is part of the forest of future technologies. A KNX system ensures optimal control of parts of the building in the Belarussian pavilion. The forest represents the natural heritage of Belarus with its unique European forest landscape.
Morocco’s pavilion: under the banner of sustainability
The Moroccan pavilion focuses on sustainability. Equipped with a KNX system, it will be converted into a residential complex after the Dubai Expo, complete with swimming pool, fitness club and lounge, and will therefore continue to be used.
Brazil’s pavilion: an aquatic landscape
The Brazilian pavilion with its water plaza is inspired by the aquatic landscape of the Rio Negro in the Amazon basin. KNX ensures the right interior climate here. The lighting of the entire pavilion can also be fully controlled via the KNX system, as can the image and light projectors, speakers and aroma sprinklers.
Peru’s pavilion: on the path of change
Smart KNX applications can also be found in the Peruvian pavilion, symbolising the changes which have taken place in the history of the South American country. The outer walls of the pavilion, optically based on Peruvian weaving art, are visual highlights, as well as the huge interior walls inspired by the ruins of Kuélap.
Luxembourg’s pavilion: the infinity of the circular economy
The Luxembourg pavilion, controlled by a KNX system, is inspired by a Möbius strip, whereby a strip is twisted and folded so that it is a single surface, with no beginning and no end. This is intended to represent the circular economy. There are various projections and animations in the pavilion, showing the country and its inhabitants, while its special architecture instils the feeling of being both inside and outside at the same time.
France’s pavilion: with the power of light
Light as a source of inspiration, knowledge and creativity forms the central element of the French pavilion’s architectural concept. KNX was selected as the means of controlling the complex light installations. The French pavilion aims to rethink progress, create emotions and unleash new ideas to reinvent the world.
Belgium’s pavilion: the “Green Ark”
Sustainability is not only an important concern for KNX, but also for the KNX-controlled Belgian pavilion, which is a “Green Ark” dedicated to this issue. Belgian industrial, technical and scientific know-how is exhibited here. In terms of design, the pavilion reflects a mixture of artistic Latin Romanticism and industrial Anglo-Saxon technical precision.
Saudi Arabia’s pavilion: a glimpse of the future
The Saudi Arabian pavilion is also equipped with the latest KNX technology. It offers an insight into the future of humanity based on four pillars: people, nature, heritage and opportunities.
Impressive demonstration of KNX’s versatility
“We feel greatly honoured that KNX is a part of Expo Dubai and can therefore contribute to the successful outcome of this highly regarded world exhibition. Therefore, we give special thanks to our KNX members and system integrators that made it possible. At Expo Dubai, they impressively demonstrate the versatile applications and comprehensive performance of KNX to the global public”, explains Franz Kammerl, President of the KNX Association.
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