Hennessey has completed construction of the Slovenian Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site, following its partnership with, renowned Slovenian engineering company Riko, Hennessey was proud to be the local main contractor on site for the project. During a year that has brought many challenges to the building industry due to the pandemic, Hennessey has facilitated the construction of the Pavilion through its own resources, plant, and workforce, and collaborated successfully with main contractor, Riko, to complete and handover the project to the Slovenian authorities at a ceremony last week.
Slovenia is a country rich in nature and beauty, and this concept has been cleverly represented in the Pavilion through various features such as the Green Wall that wraps around the building, the timber umbrella structure, and the reflection pools at the entrance. In additional, the Pavilion is located in the Sustainability District which further exemplifies Slovenia’s commitment to sustainable business and growth.
The spruce timber structure was designed and manufactured in Slovenia, it was then containerised and shipped to the U.A.E. It was Riko’s vast knowledge and experience with timber construction that enabled the design and installation of it within the U.A.E., where working with timber in such a way is unknown. One of the challenges brought up by the Covid-19 pandemic, was that the manufacturers were not able to travel to Dubai to install the structure as was originally planned, this is where Hennessey were able to step in. Their Joinery Division was on hand to undertake the installation of the timber, which was placed in situ onto a steel frame. This impressive feature represents Slovenia’s timber industry, as well as the country strong affinity with nature and ability to build and live sustainably.
Further use of timber construction can be seen in the interiors of the building, through the cross laminated flooring on the first and second floors, all manufactured in Slovenia and installed by Hennessey Joinery Division.
The exterior is cladded with a green wall, which is a striking and beautiful element of the Pavilion and serves to highlight the green landscapes of Slovenia. Two reflection pools are situated at the entrance, which were constructed by Hennessey Pools Division. These pools represent the picturesque lakes of Slovenia, such as Lake Bled, and the country’s strong connection to the sea as well.
The Slovenian Pavilion is now ready for the opening of the Expo later this year. With an area of 1950m2, it showcases the best of Slovenia’s culture, nature, and important place within the global economy. The partnership between Riko and Hennessey has been a successful one, bringing together two organisations to collaborate and to overcome obstacles together in a challenging and uncertain time. This supportive and innovative spirit is one that will be the foundation of the Expo 2020 in Dubai.
