Inspiration will be the theme of Ireland’s participation in Expo 2020, which is taking place in November 2021. The country’s national pavilion will tell an “epic story” of culture and heritage dating back 5,000 years to visitors at this year’s Expo.

A fusion of Western and Eastern architecture, its design is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox, best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the Winter Solstice sun.

Plans for the pavilion’s programme include a permanent exhibition and six-month schedule of daily cultural, educational, sporting and business events across four themes – The Irish Fantastic, The Irish Scientific, Irish World Changers and Trailblazers and Global Ireland.

Inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox, the pavilion holds a 360° exhibition and a performance space where organisers will tell the epic story of Ireland as an island of inspiration. It is the first ever World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region and over 190 countries will take part.
The 900 sq m Irish pavilion will be in the Mobility pavilion, near Jubilee Park and have a capacity for 15,000 people.

Designers, OPW, took inspiration from Co Meath’s Newgrange that dates back more than 5,000 years. The ancient passage tomb is illuminated completely annually at the time of winter solstice when sunlight floods the inner chamber through a roofbox.

This effect has been recreated in Dubai through Ireland’s Expo pavilion, which organisers hope will ‘inspire’ visitors to take a deeper interest in Ireland’s culture and history.

AtkinsRéalis are the Civil and Structural Engineers on this project.
The pavilion was visualised by CGI consultants, 3D Design Bureau who produced architectural CGIs and animations of the display.