The stakes have been raised for the design and build competitions following the success of Thomas Heatherwick’s UK Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
Heatherwick’s striking design was greeted with great acclaim as the “world’s largest ever hairy building”.
The Milan Expo theme will be ‘Feeding the World: Energy for Life’.
Government said the overall concept needs to be original, visually compelling and memorable, showcasing British creativity and innovation with a special focus on food, lifestyle, technology and sustainability.
Despite there being no design, the Pavillion is budgeted to cost £3m-£6m to build.
Over 85 creative and construction teams responded to the first phase of the design and construction competitions.
Seven construction firms from London, York and Italy have made the shortlist.
Constructors
- Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti – CMC di Ravenna
- GL events Owen Brown
- Impresa di Costruzioni Ing. E. Mantovani S.p.A
- Nussli UK
- Mace
- Pico In-Creative (UK)
- Stage One Creative Services
The multi-disciplinary creative teams are led by architects and design agencies collaborating with other creative companies. They will present their detailed concepts in April.
Creative teams
- AL_A with The Nature Conservancy, The Future Laboratory, Exposure, Gross.max, Woodroffe Bassett, AKT II and Max Fordham
- Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Studio Myerscough with Eckersley O’Callaghan, Atelier Ten, Gillespies, Richard Greenwood and Scan Lab
- Asif Khan with Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Josh Schowald, AKT II, Atelier Ten, AECOM, iart, iLUKA, Dr. Rachel Armstrong, Andrew Pimbly and The Skinny Bib
- Barber & Osgerby with Universal Design Studio, Imperial College, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, MAP, Gensler, Max Fordham, Arup, Lend Lease, Speirs and Major and B-Reel
- David Kohn Architects with Bompas & Parr, London Research Kitchen, Random International, Exploration Architecture, Max Fordham, Jane Wernick, Jonathan Cook Associated, Tristram Stuart/Feeding the 5000, Change performing arts, Nicola Twilley/Edible Geography and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Grant Associates with Wilkinson Eyre, Seawater Greenhouse, Cornwall Food Foundation, Atelier One, Atelier Ten, Thomas Matthews, Sennep, Five Hate and Buro Four
- Paul Cocksedge Studio, with GrowUP and Arup
- Wolfgang Buttress Studio with Slow Food UK, Martin Dewey, Tristan Simmonds Studio, BDP, Clear Consultants, Professor Rudi Klein and Fleet River Music
UK Commissioner General, Hannah Corbett said: “I have been impressed by the number of companies who applied and delighted that the final list represents such a diverse cross-section of British talent.”
The teams now have until mid-April to develop concept designs to present to the competition Jury. A winner is expected to be announced in May.
 May 2025.gif)
.gif)
