New images show the Netherlands pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai being dismantled as workers clear the area ahead of is redevelopment.
The Dutch pavilion was built in such a way that the materials used during its construction could be reused following the end of the six-month expo event in Dubai.
It was built with the focus on sustainability, given that it was only ever going to be used over a six-month period.
“The pavilion was designed with circularity in mind. This is reflected in the choice of materials used for all components, including structural elements,” said Maarten Veerman, project manager at Witteveen+Bos, part of a consortium of four companies who designed and built the structure.
“Our team worked with a structure of steel sheet piles and steel tubes, as those materials are widely available and known for their reusability.
“Sheet piles are often used in temporary structures and many companies rent them out, contributing to the project’s fully sustainable nature.”
The steel tubes and sheet piles will be used for other construction projects across the UAE, officials confirmed.
The plot itself will end up looking just as it did before the pavilion was constructed – an empty spot of desert land.
Desert sand was excavated from the site when work on its construction began in 2018.
The sand was used for filling the double sheet piles, whilst also being used as temporary insulation material.
That sand will then be poured into the plot again once the dismantling is complete.
A giant cone blanketed with edible plants, cress and mushrooms was the main attraction of the Netherlands pavilion.
A mushroom farm was housed inside the cone, which displayed how herbs and food could grow in the desert, will now become the property of local entrepreneur Dima Al Srouri, a lecturer at Abu Dhabi’s Sorbonne University.
Dozens of companies and thousands of residents will move to the Expo legacy site, known as District 2020, from autumn 2022.
Last week, German engineering giant Siemens said it will relocate its local office and hundreds of employees to the site, which is served by the metro, nearby airport and a new bus service.
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The site of Expo 2020 Dubai is now being transformed, following the end of the world's fair on March 31. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Former accommodation for world's fair staff is being converted into the Expo Village residential complex. -
Located in Dubai South, Expo Village is just a few minutes’ walk from the entrance gates of the Expo legacy site – which will soon evolve into District 2020 -
Expo Village is made up of 15 mid-rise buildings divided into four clusters. Each cluster has its own swimming pool. -
The four clusters of Expo Village contain a total of 2,273 dwellings. These range from studio to three-bedroom apartments to 30 three-bedroom townhouses, -
Parks and playgrounds throughout the complex make it appealing to families, say developers. -
While occupancy by Expo staff was 97 per cent during the event, soon this will be down to less than 5 per cent, and apartments will be available to rent. -
Expo Village has its own dedicated park spanning 38,000 square metres, a running track and a cycle path circling its perimeter. -
Keeping fit indoors is covered too, with a residents' gym in each cluster. -
Dubai World Trade Centre, which manages Expo Village, says the focus on parkland, gardens and the running and cycling tracks encourages health and wellness among residents. -
Tree-shaded walkways at Expo Village. Developers describe it as 'a village within a village'. -
The entrance to the Expo 2020 Dubai metro line is located just a minute's walk from each cluster and the area is connected to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. -
A rooftop leisure area at Expo Village. -
Green spaces are a vital part of Expo Village, say property managers. -
The development includes a supermarket, a pharmacy, cafes and restaurants, a healthcare clinic, salons and Covid-19 testing clinic. -
With Expo 2020 Dubai over, apartments are now being made ready for new tenants expected over the next few months. -
The living room of a two-bedroom apartment. Most properties will be let fully furnished. -
The kitchen and dining area of a three-bedroom townhouse. -
A twin bedroom in a three-bedroom townhouse. -
Property managers are seeking to create a co-working space within some of the Expo Village retail and home rental units. -
An overview of Expo Village. -
The nearby Expo 2020 Dubai metro line. -
With properties ranging from 40 square metres up to 130 square metres, management company Dubai World Trade Centre says Expo Village rents will be 'very competitive'.
