Theme "Mexico, the Seed for the New World: Food, Diversity and Heritage"
The Concept
Mexico is home to a wide variety of plants, animals and ecosystems: a true cradle of biodiversity. This wealth is tied closely to an ancient culture and to one of the most diverse, sophisticated, and assorted gastronomies of the world, so much so that in 2010 Mexican cuisine was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Its history is made up of flavors, a cultural model that harmonizes and combines agricultural activities, rituals, traditional practices, wisdom, techniques and culinary habits, unique tools - such as the metate or the molcajete - and communal activities.
In joining Expo Milano 2015, Mexico seeks to show visitors the wealth of its natural resources and biodiversity, and its commitment to finding solutions for a world free from hunger, malnutrition and unsustainable food production practices. It also seeks to present its contribution to the global production of a large number of foods with healing properties.
Pavilion Architecture
Since its first participation in a Universal Exhibition (Philadelphia in 1876), Mexico has always delivered an impressive pavilion that captures the imagination. The fundamental theme of Expo Milano 2015 is sustainability, being as much a driving principle for feeding the world's population, as a criteria for architectural design, in terms of eco-friendly materials, ease of construction and dismantling, and fulfilling proposed programs.The architect Francisco López Guerra Almada, together with Jorge Vallejo and consulting biologist Juan Guzzy, designed the winning proposal of the international competition based on the most typical Mexican food: corn.
Indeed, its large external structure, inspired by the shape of a big corn cob, covers the 1,910 square-meter pavilion, set in a prime location at the intersection of the two main avenues. The interior offers an all-encompassing exhibition of typical produce, edged by a stream of water that gives life to the gardens and takes visitors along spiral ramps, to explore the gastronomic, ecological and cultural riches of Mexico.
