Shanghai World Expo 2010

The theme of the 2010 Expo theme is “Better City, Better Life”. With 70 million visitors expected at the World Expo site, Shanghai’s current 4 Metro lines will be expanded to 11, adding an additional 400 kilometers to the city’s rail system. We accepted China’s invitation to participate at Expo 2010 in September 2006. Our representation is being coordinated by John Kennedy in the Taoiseach’s office, who was also responsible for leading Ireland’s dull and dismal presence at the 2005 Expo in Aichi, Japan. The Cabinet has decided that our pavilion is to be delivered by PPP, ruling out a pure design contest. Once their participation is confirmed, countries are required to submit a “Theme Statement” and “Exhibition Project” to the Organiser. As far as I am aware, no “theme statement” has yet been submitted by Ireland. Following an informal steer at Cabinet, the venue option that we will pursue is an off-the-shelf, rented box rather than a self-generated pavilion.
http://www.expo2010china.com/expo/expoenglish/ps/sapp/userobject1ai35721.html

The Dutch government, on the other hand, is committing 30 million euro (site, design, construction, exhibition and staffing) and expects to attract an additional 20 million from the private sector for their effort.
http://www.holland-expo2010.nl/engels/news2.asp

Where some other countries are at right now with preparations… It would break your heart.
UK: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1159194263966
Switzerland: http://www.expo2010china.com/expo/expoenglish/news/sen/userobject1ai41791.html
Australia: http://www.expo2010.org.au/design_concept/pavilion_design_concept.html
New Zealand: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0611/S00183.htm
It was announced two weeks ago that Enric Miralles- Benedetta Tagliabue (EMBT) will design Spain’s pavilion.

Irish cityscapes to be featured at Expo

So it’s a chinese firm that designed this, right?

More Information:
http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20081022/000001.htm

Nah, Des Byrne won an internal OPW competition for the building design. Contents/internal design directed by John Kennedy of the Taoiseach’s Department. Can you believe it? Same team (OPW/DeptT/National Museum) did the Aichi Expo pavilion in Japan in 2005, which was pretty plastic and underwhelming, to say the least.

BTW: the OPW scheme in Kaiser’s illustrations was selected last year and still there’s been no Government announcement AFAIK. Trying to slip it under the radar?