Terra: sustainability in climatic extremes

Terra is the name of the sustainability themed pavilion designed by Grimshaw for Expo 2020 Dubai. It’s also the title of a docufilm created by THE PLAN Media House that looks at the story behind the project through evocative images and interviews with the key figures behind its success, including Andrew Whalley (president, Grimshaw Architects), Marjan Faraidooni (chief experience officer, Expo 2020 Dubai), and Mark Lavery (director, Buro Happold).

Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion

Sustainability is one of today’s most discussed issues internationally. It’s something that simply cannot be ignored to ensure the usability and longevity of architectural projects. International architecture firm Grimshaw has always played a leading role in this dialogue through various projects it has designed over the years – including the British Pavilion for the 1992 Expo in Seville – and its decision to go carbon neutral from 2020 as part of its commitment to design buildings and infrastructure with zero CO₂ emissions by 2025.Terra is one of the most recent projects that reaffirms the practice’s commitment to these objectives. Having to embody the values of sustainability while responding to the extreme conditions of its desert setting, the project was a major challenge in the short term. But it was also a medium and long term challenge with the pavilion to form part of a vibrant new center for the city of Dubai once the Expo closed its doors.

THE PLAN Media House documentary

The docufilm Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, created by THE PLAN Media House, will premiere on Wednesday, January 25, at Grimshaw’s London headquarters as part of the event Regenerative Design: Defining Pathways to Deliver a Resilient Future. Besides the screening of the documentary, there will be a round table session, chaired by Nicola Leonardi, co-founder and managing editor of THE PLAN Magazine. Together with Andrew Whalley (Grimshaw chairman), Julie Hirigoyen (chief executive of UKGBC), and Paula Cadima (director of March + MSc Sustainable Environmental Design at the AA and senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy), the panelists will discuss regenerative design and what needs to change in our approach to achieve a resilient future for all.

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Terra aerial view

Courtesy Dubai Expo 2020

Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion

© Phil Handforth, courtesy Grimshaw

Exhibition by Eden Project

© Phil Handforth, courtesy Grimshaw

Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion

© Phil Handforth, courtesy Grimshaw

Terra landscape view

© Marc Goodwin, courtesy Grimshaw

Landscape and E-trees surrounding the main pavilion

© Desert Inc, courtesy Grimshaw

Naturally-lit atrium space

© Phillip Handforth, courtesy Grimshaw

Canopy viewed from inside pavilion

© Grimshaw, courtesy Grimshaw

Landscape and Energy-trees

© Marc Goodwin, courtesy Grimshaw

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