Theme of exhibition participant ARMENIA


 The theme of the Armenian pavilion is “The City of the World” – a new module of 21st century civilization.
 The goal of the Armenian exhibitory pavilion is to take advantage of the unlimited potential of the international exhibition, Shanghai Expo 2010, in order to invite the people of the world to participate in a unique project constructing the City of the World!
 For its construction, Armenia will provide territory at the base of the biblical Mount Ararat, where, as it is written, Noah’s Ark landed during the global flood (thus saving every living creature on earth) and which, undoubtedly, remains a worldwide symbol of salvation and rebirth.
 The City of the World, at first generated virtually, and then brought to life in reality, will be an area of cooperation and interrelationship between different civilizations and cultures, a reliable guardian of national cultural achievements and traditions, a hospitable environment for implementing the newest technology to increase living standards, and a comfortable living space for every citizen of the world.
 This project, presented by Armenia, quite clearly reflects the aspiration and ambition of the Armenian people toward creativity and conservation. It’s not by accident that the slogan of the Armenian pavilion is “Thought and Time”, since, in the eternal battle between “creative thought” and “ever-consuming Time”, they are a central dialectic of development of cities and the world. This particular slogan in the best way possible, reflects that very obvious truth, that throughout the entire history of the Armenian people, their creative thought conceived of and built their own cities (as well as other’s), gave birth to amazing architectural monuments, memorials and structures, offering clear and ample evidence, located on the territory of Armenia itself, as well as beyond it. Unfortunately, time has destroyed great quantities of these wonderful historic structures and today only a fraction of them remain.
 The idea of constructing the City of the World, from one point of view, is based on the rich creative potential of the Armenian people, who throughout the centuries made enormous contributions to the formation of a civilized living environment, while, on the other hand, striving towards the formation of a new environment for world-peace and creativity.
 The project intends to build a completely unique city, where in one single environment, different neighborhoods for every nationality and country would be designed and built. These architectural ensembles of national neighborhoods would demonstrate the cultural uniqueness and the essential spirit of different peoples; they would consist of various modules, i.e., the module of life, the module of memories, the module of creativity, the module of leisure, and the module of health, etc.
 The prototypes of these neighborhood facilities would be planned and designed by Armenian architects living in various countries of the world, along with their international colleagues and would be displayed at the opening of the exhibition in the Armenian pavilion in the form of constructed models and other forms of presentation (electronic computer formats on monitors) as architectural ideas and approaches, for the discussion of visitors to the exhibition.
 The interactive process will be organized in such a manner, that the maximum number of physical visitors to pavilion Armenia, in addition to virtual ones, can participate with ease. Widespread discussion of the “City of the World” project will be expanded into every popular social network, internet network forums and blogs, and of course on the “City of the World” official website – www.cityoftheworld.com.
 Ideas for the project, which will be born in the process of these discussions and may be submitted by any participant from any country, will undergo a special screening process, and the best of them will be implemented in the form of new models and displayed in the “Armenia” pavilion during the exposition. This will enable the pavilion to become interactive and lively. Every participant will have an opportunity to contribute to the creation of the virtual “City of the World.” In this way, the uniqueness of the Armenian pavilion’s exhibition strategy consists of the birth of the “City of the World” specifically in Shanghai, during the exhibition EXPO2010 itself.
  At the end of the exhibition, on the basis of all received architectural projects, a final version of the virtual prototype of the “City of the World” will be generated. This will become the first virtual internet city, which will ultimately be substantially built on Earth. In addition, based on the presented projects, a “Gallery of the World” will be created.
 Main Characteristics
  Walking into the Armenian pavilion, visitors will see a wonderful, picturesque image of the biblical Mount Ararat depicted on the front-mounted monitor (changing throughout the day), at the base of which the future city will be built. Also on this monitor, video clips will be aired, summarizing and reflecting on the purpose of the project “City of the World” and talking about the participation and contributions of citizens across the globe.
 Around the circular perimeter of the pavilion will stand 12 steles, stylized in the form of Armenian Khachkars (traditional crosses engraved in stone), on which wonderful and beautiful patterns of Armenian architectural work and other cultural values will be shown.
 In the center of the pavilion, a model of the “City of the World” will be located, and within it, on a special scrolling news ticker, information about online discussions of the project around the globe will be displayed. Near the entrance a shopping zone of the pavilion will be organized. Here, all who desire, may acquire interesting goods and souvenirs, as well as try and taste amazing treats, from the fertile land of Armenia.
 The virtual 3D model of the “City of the World” will be on display for all in the virtual environment called “Experiencing Pavilion”, which Armenia chose within Shanghai Online.
 Also, many various interesting events are scheduled in the Armenian pavilion during the exhibition. These include:
  - “Apricot Garden”, during which all visitors could experience the stunningly fabulous Armenian spring and the blossoming of an apricot tree, taste the unique apricots of Armenia and enjoy the magical sounds of the world renown Armenian Duduk (flute) which is crafted specifically out of wood from the apricot tree.;
  - “Gold & Silk”, during which visitors could discover very many new and interesting facts about ancient trade relations between Armenia and China, get acquainted with the unique mastery of Armenian jewelers, purchase or order extraordinary custom-made jewelry;
 - “Nation of Health”, during which visitors could discover Armenia for themselves – as “a nation of source” and “a nation of salvation”, with a unique energy and aura, which heals and cleanses the human soul and body. For the first time ever, a new global Spa-Brand called “Ararat Religious Spa” will be presented to all visitors. Also explained will be the philosophical concept of Armenian Spa, those unique healing procedures are available only in Armenia. Right inside the pavilion, it will be possible to purchase special Spa-tours, which during the Shanghai Expo will be offered at surprisingly low prices. In addition, many other interesting events will take place inside the Armenian pavilion, about which you can discover at the participants website www.armeniaexpo.net.
 Armenian Independence Day will be celebrated at the exhibition on September 21st. This will be a day full of interesting events and will stand out by showcasing the great hospitability of the Armenian nation. Creative show-teams will dazzle the viewers with the best entertainment offered by the rich Armenian culture. Entertaining exhibits and presentations will be organized, and in the city of Shanghai a unique promotional production will be staged, called “Armenia – The Art of Creation”, which will become a pleasant and unforgettable surprise for all people living in the city.
 Armenia, as a nation that has experienced and lived through much throughout its history, quite deeply feels the need for peaceful coexistence, unity and cooperation, mutual respect and tolerance, and the preservation of the utmost cultural treasures of mankind for future generations. This is the main goal and purpose for the project “City of the World”. As a powerful and vivid symbol of this, on May 1st the Armenian pavilion at the exhibition Shanghai Expo 2010 will be opened by an Armenian girl named Nane and a Chinese boy named Chinkua, who have laid down the first stone in the construction of the “City of the World”.
 We welcome and invite you to come join us! Let’s build the “City of the World” TOGETHER!

Shanghai_Expo 2010_Armenian_pavilion

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24.03.2010

  A commentary about Armenia participation at Shanghai Expo 2010 was made on “Yerkir Media TV” on March 22nd and we would like to state the following:
  The Chinese side offered 1000sq.meter territory for building Armenia’s pavilion-500sq meter for free and the rest on payment basis. The pavilion was to be located in the Asian part. The delegation of creative group visited the 1000sq.meter pavilion in Shanghai and suggested the organizational committee to think over the decision about building 1000sq.m pavilion since it will not be financially productive and will be hard to implement it. This issue was discussed and it was decided to select the territory with 500sq.m that was provided for our country free of charge and it located in the European part. The sides signed a financial support agreement for expo participation according to which Chinese side will provide a financial support for $650 thous. USD. It will include the expenses of building the pavilion. It is mandatory that Chinese companies licensed by expo organizers will build the pavilion which means there is no way the money will evaporate. As far as the state budget financing is concerned we have to note that to insure Armenia’s participation at the Expo 2010, 500mln AMD will be provide which will involve all the activities during 6 month period, including the organizational expenditures for National Day of Armenia to be held on September 21s. All the pavilion building options have been discussed in various auditoriums and the present option was selected taking into account the opinions from all over without infringing any defined procedure of the selection process. Therefore, we think that it is not right to allege opinions about pavilion theme selection in single discussion.
  Indeed, all the discussions about Armenia’s participation at the Expo are welcome, as well as multiple opinions, however we think that the current commentary would have had more weight if more than one opinion was presented rather than the opinion of Mrs. Isabela Muradyan, the director of Chinese culture and science ceter and his father, director of "Art Systems".

  Armenian Development Agency
  Public Relations Department

  ARMENIA IS PREPARING TO PARTICIPATE AT THE SHANGHAI-EXPO 2010
20.02.2008

  Along with the Government's assistance, Armenia already commenced the preparation for the exhibition "Shanghai-Expo 2010"
  As the General-Director of Armenian Development Agency, Mr. Tigran Davtyan, noted during the discussion with news agency Armenpress, special committee has been formed at the head of the minister of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia Mr. N. Yeritsyan, who is working on the conception of Armenia's participation at the upcoming remarkable international exhibition. "Armenia will be able to present various brands. Currently we are doing all possible to present Armenia reputably in this exhibition" noted Mr. T. Davtyan..
  The exhibition "Shanghai-Expo 2010" with its original format and scale will be unprecedented, and the participation at this event will expand the circle of cooperation, particularly, with the Chinese market, which is one of the objectives for Armenia.

  SHANGHAI EXPO 2010 WORLD EXPOSITION
   May 1 - October 31, 2010
  The theme "Better City, Better Life" is the soul of the Expo. China selected it because it reflects issues of universal concern about the development of the human society in the 21st century. Developing urban environments with quality of life as an objective has become a focus for governments and the general public in the world.
  Ideas about city planning and concepts for an ideal city have been cultivated in every stage of the history of urban development. Politics, philosophy, ethics, religion, ideology and art have all expressed the human ideals in different ways for a better city.
  Meanwhile, cities today are faced with great challenges, and it is hoped that Expo 2010 Shanghai China will help develop a blueprint, through exchanges of ideas and experience on a global basis, for a better city and better life.
  Today cities are faced with a series of challenges: congestion, pollution, crimes and social conflicts, spatial conflicts, cultural collisions, resource shortages and environment degeneration. It is in the face of such discord that Expo 2010 Shanghai China, through its theme "Better City, Better Life" aims at finding harmonious solutions for building urban environments of tomorrow.
  "Better City, Better Life" is fundamentally constructed upon the co-existence of diverse cultures and communities, harmonious development of urban economy, balanced life in the age of science and fruitful interactions between urban and rural areas. While bringing about new challenges to urban planning and management, the theme content will also stimulate the development of the city in the more intangible elements of humanity, culture and society.
  Expo 2010 will illustrate the concept of "Better City, Better Life" from five perspectives: culture, economy, science and technology, communities and rural-urban relations. Although these five perspectives or sub-themes are independent from each other, they are closely interrelated.
  Armenian Development Agency has been appointed as the National Operator, and Minister of Trade and Economic development of Armenia-Commissioner General for Armenian participation at the Expo 2010 Shanghai China by the Government of Armenia.
  For more details you can visit Shanghai Expo 2010 World Exposition web site at   http://en.expo2010china.com