Netherlands pavilion at Expo sets an example for sustainable future

The Netherlands Pavilion marks yet another milestone as Marjan van Aubel Studio installs the vibrantly colourful solar panels uniquely designed for the pavilion.

The skylights are made out of lightweight organic transparent solar cells (OPV), that are circular and of non-toxic materials. By combining technology, art and sustainable materials, the studio has created the solar panels of the future.

“The global energy transition is gathering pace, and solar energy is one of the driving forces behind it. Smart innovations are needed to uphold this momentum, precisely in order to make solar energy more economical and reliable, and to enable large-scale integration into our built and natural environment. Harnessing the potential of solar energy also calls for creativity and innovative strength”, says Hans Sandee, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dubai and Commissioner General of the Netherlands Pavilion.

He continues, “We are very proud to have Marjan van Aubel’s creations at the Netherlands Pavilion. Not only does her design add aesthetic value to our pavilion, but her craftwork is also a direct reflection of our main theme of ‘Uniting water, energy and food’. It is an expression of how we can bring a sustainable change to the future”.

Van Aubel’s skylights will immerse the visitor in rays of light. Through the translucent panels, light and colour reflect, refract and dance inside the pavilion.

The Netherlands pavilion, also known as the ‘Dutch Biotope’, designed by V8 Architects and a consortium of partners, is a temporary circular climate system where water, energy and food solutions are intrinsically connected.

The unique solar panels by Marjan van Aubel will collect energy from Dubai’s sun rays to power the pavilion. At the same time, they also allow the tinted daylight fall into the pavilion and filter the right spectrum of light which the edible plants on the food cone will utilize for photosynthesis.

Van Aubel demonstrates that the solar panels whilst collecting energy, is also a beautiful form of art too. The graphic design is made with a coloured Moiré effect the lines and patterns are interacting with each other creating stunning light reflections in the pavilion.

The coloured armour ASCA OPV, a third generation solar technology is printed on PET foils and is produced in a sustainable manner. They are lightweight, which makes them easily transportable.

The panels will get a second life after Expo 2020 Dubai and are designed in such a way that it can be easily dismantled and reassembled.

“Instead of just seeing solar as a technology, this delicately crafted creation showcases solar energy with an emotional value using the power of design.

The aim is to make it more accessible for everyone, everywhere. It is a new wave of art that has an identity on its own!” quotes Van Aubel.

The Netherlands Pavilion, located at the Sustainability District at Expo 2020 Dubai, will be open to visitors in six months, starting from Oct.1, 2021 to March31, 2022. The pavilion has a giant green food cone known as the ‘Biotope’ as the centre of attraction.

The vertical farm is covered with edible plants and irrigated with the harvested water from the air using innovative Dutch technologies.

With these high-tech advancements and more in offering, the pavilion aims to be a true platform for sustainability and circularity initiatives thereby, enabling visitors to experience the Netherlands’ expertise in uniting water, energy and food.

Dutch businesses, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations have specific knowledge and proficiency in these fields and can therefore, play a key role in finding solutions that contribute to a more sustainable planet.

Possessing a naturally controlled climate, the pavilion’s structure is constructed using locally sourced materials that will be recycled after Expo period, minimising its ecological footprint.

Marjan van Aubel is a Dutch award-winning solar designer who seamlessly integrates solar power into our environments such as in buildings and objects. Van Aubel’s most notable works are ‘Current Table ’and ‘Power Plant’.

She also recently launched her first solar design product, ‘Sunne’- a solar light that mimics the sun. Her work is part of permanent collections of museums such as MoMA New York, the V&A London and Boijmans van Beuningen in the Netherlands, to name but a few.

She has collaborated with global brands such as Cos, Timberland and Swarovski with the aim of accelerating global energy transition to solar.