Fuksas design inspired by natural surroundings

Milan's new Trade Fair, covering 2 million square metres makes it one of the biggest buildings in Europe. The design by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas is characterized by a 1,300 metre central axis: the transparent coverage modifies spaces and represents the continuity of vision. A series of buildings connect at ground level and at footbridge level. The buildings host various types of functions; restaurants, meeting rooms, office spaces, receptions to connect the exhibition halls and are suspended above treated landscaped areas; water, green areas and concrete. Above the whole of this space extends the vast roof covering – an undulating lightweight structure like a veil. The form of the veil is derived from constant natural landscape such as "craters", "waves", "dunes", "hills". As a natural landscape the shape is never repetitive, giving the visitor an animating, continuously varying perspective

Samy Mansour