Expo Axis (Shanghai)

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The Expo Axis is the world largest membrane roof which spans the entrance and boulevard building of the World Exposition 2010 in Shanghai. The combination of the membrane structure, which has a surface of 65,000 m2 in total with a span of 100 m, and the six steelglass funnels of 45 m height, formed of a freeform double-curved framework, constitutes the landmark of the Expo Shanghai 2010.

Besides the China Pavilion, the Expo Axis is the largest and most significant building on the site. It forms the central entrance area and provides 350,000 m2 effective area for numerous facilities for the exposition. Via the round 1 km long and 100 m wide axis, which stretches across the entire site to the Huangpu River, the visitors are guided to the various national and theme-based pavilions.

The Expo Boulevard is one of five buildings which will remain after the world exposition to form the centre of a new urban district of Shanghai in the long run.

The Expo Boulevard is covered by a membrane roof with a total surface of 65,000 m2, the currently largest of its kind world-wide. With a free span of almost 100 m, it sounds the limits of technical feasibility. The roof is carried by 19 interior and 31 exterior masts and by six funnel shaped framework shells consisting of steel and glass. It has a height of 45 m and a free projection of 80 m. These so called Sun Valleys direct natural light into the basements. The design and development of the structure originate by Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering Stuttgart/New York. In terms of structure and shape, the roof structure lives up to Stuttgart’s tradition of the internationally respected lightweight constructions. By these means, it continues a row of outstanding architectural engineering works, such as the tent construction of the German Pavilion at the World Exposition 1967 in Montreal, as well as the geodesic framework-dome for the American Pavilion Buckminster Fuller.