ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 476

Introduction
The great expositions have always been characterized by new architectures and technologies.
“Feeding the planet, energy for life” is the main theme of Milano Expo 2015 and the organization
encouraged the participants to join the topic in every aspects of the event, even in the design of
the pavilions. The energy for life represents one of the most discussed topics of this century since,
as Global Footprint stated we are in a global ecological overshoot. In other words we are using
more resources than the earth can provide and new environmental approaches to processes that
consume energy is becoming increasingly an absolutely priority.
To ensure the effort of all participants to adopt eco-sustainable measurements, Milano Expo 2015
established a series of environmental criteria collected in guidelines. The “green procurement
guidelines”, for example, offers some criteria which permit to make the sustainability “not just an
objective but part of the event itself”. All these criteria are based on services and technologies already available in Europe, such as food recovery, use of renewable materials, waste recovery, etc.
In addition the guidelines suggest some tips to integrate the environmental criteria in the phase
of the contractor awarding process (e.g. environmental goals in the contract, selection of candidates with environmental certifications or certifications in materials quality and production).
Anyway sustainable building could be a big part of the solution to energy problem, since the
building sector is responsible for the 40 percent of the world’s energy consumption. For this reason the construction of sustainable pavilions has been considered one of the most important
starting points of the exhibition.
The document “Guidelines Sustainable Solutions” lists the solutions, which are organized in four
sections representing the three phases of the work that will be done on the pavilions: design, construction, dismantling and reuse. Each participant may adopt voluntary one or more solutions,
depending on its strategy for the exhibition plan, architectural language, technology know-how
and culture.

Guidelines sustainable solutions
The aim of sustainable solutions is to gain the comfort and the efficiency using as few resources
as possible and ensuring the resources used are ecological, renewable and workable with low
energy emissions.
The first section of the guidelines sets the design criteria. This part concern with the functional layout and the technologies used to provide thermal inertia, reduce overheating, improve
day-lighting and maximize the use of alternatives energy. The period of the exhibition is from May
to October, so the biggest challenge to face is minimize the demand for cooling. The employed
layout must provide thermal inertia, natural ventilation, shadows (but also day-lighting) and if
necessary smart control system.
The second section deals with the design materials and construction technologies. The material
should be natural, renewable, locally available, non-toxic and with minimal chemical emission.
Sometimes the adoption of an alternative green material is easier of what it seems, because a
traditional material like masonry can be swapped with a block made from glued board offcuts of
softwood or a panel with pre-selected waste. Other interesting solutions are offered by materials
like bamboo (one of the strongest plant-based building material), laminates, Wood Plastic Composite and ceiling tiles. In the construction technologies management is required the attention to
some simple and well-known aspects as salvaging materials, reduce in waste production, adoption of prefabricated elements, use of natural surface and reduce of off-cutting on site.
The third section contains the principle useful to plan the dismantling and reuse of the pavilions.

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ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy