MILAN, Italy
Turkey is promoting a pavilion that marries traditional values with modern design elements as the country’s showcase in Expo Milano 2015, where participators seek environmentally respectful answers to the question of how to guarantee healthy food for everyone in the planet’s future.
Inaugurated by Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci on Wednesday, the pavilion adopts the fruit of pomegranate as its icon -- known as a fertility symbol in Turkey, and jibing with the expo’s theme, “Feeding the Planet; Energy for Life”.
“Turkey has been able to show in the pavilion that it is located in a region where all cultures and religions meet,” Zeybekci said in the opening ceremony.
Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Caldena visited the pavilion, calling it “fascinating”.
Pomegranate, or “Nar” in Turkish, represents diversity within unity, and “encompasses each and every one of our values and, through its very nature, is ready to share with the rest of the world”, says a ministry website designed to promote the project.
It says the pavilion, themed “Digging into History for Future Food”, consists of 3 main divisions of indoor, semi-outdoor and outdoor venues on a total area of 4.170-square-meter, which includes 7 semi-outdoor distinct chambers.
Of these chambers, 5 are designed for theme-related events and the remaining two as a Turkish restaurant and a boutique of souvenirs.
The main entrance of the Pavilion is on the outdoor area, where a perforated roof is crowned with a modern interpretation of the 'Seljuki Star' made of steel. In the whole architectural design, our values are reflected through fountains, stones, world-famous Turkish traditional house, Turkish glasswork 'Cesm-i Bulbul' and special patterns belonging to the Turkish culture.
It is the 5th largest exhibition in Expo Milano, which opened in May and expects more than 20 million visitors until October 31.
