Albeit a late addition to my blog, The international recognition received by the Pakistan Pavillion at the Dubai Expo of 2022 is nothing short of a well-deserved milestone. The recognition of the Pakistani vernacular craftsmanship and skill to curate has been widely celebrated since its inception at the event.
Despite being internationally acknowledged as a developing country, the extraordinary vision of the Pakistan Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2022 demonstrated the potential that the country holds in terms of a design revolution.
The Pakistan Pavilion, conceived by Rashid Rana, portrays a contextual showcase of the country’s rich cultural heritage influenced by its dynamic geography over a significant period. Designed amidst a surprisingly post-modern structure, the Pakistan Pavilion celebrates the country’s emergence as an innovative cultural hub.
With the intent of educating the user experiencing the pavilion with the journey of Pakistan as an emerging young country with a complex history, the Pavilion has been divided into eight segments that address every developmental milestone of the country over time.
The first entry point ushers the user into a space that highlights the ancient history of Pakistan starting from 7000 years back at MehrGarh going all the way to 1947 which was when Pakistan was conceived as an independent country. This space is enhanced by a low ceiling decorated with the traditional vernacular technique of ‘Kashi Kari’ by local ceramist Sadia Salim.
The local Kashi Kari technique applied on the low ceiling space [cc. ArchiTimes]
The Pavilion also includes immersive spaces which guide the user through the aid of acoustic and tactile elements. A narrow corridor surrounded by historical replicas of paintings from the Sheesh Mahal and mirrored walls are used to commemorate the Mughal Era and the religion of the State, Islam. This corridor exaggerates the use of light through these textures and apertures that create a sense of wonder for the user.
Narrow Corridor with textures [cc. ArchiTimes]
From this narrow space, the following space, in contrast, is much wider and is one of the largest spaces designed inside the pavilion and is surrounded by two screens on the side. The two screens leave the user astounded in terms of scale and primarily showcase the diversity in the natural landscape of Pakistan, its flora, and its fauna. This immersive photography, all the way from the South up to the North of Pakistan, has been documented by local filmmaker Nisar Malik.
Video Screens, Pakistan Pavilion. [cc. ArchiTimes]
The Pakistani local craftsmanship is another aspect that is widely celebrated throughout the Pavilion. Whether it is in the form of pottery, textile, fabric, or even local cuisines, the indigenous skill of the Pakistani population from different geographical locations has been proudly showcased for the world to see and experience as part of the Dubai Expo 2022.