Shanghai World Expo

Despite the torrential rains that recently fell, everything is rolling along for the opening of the 2010 Shanghai Expo, set to begin May 1. Two hundred exhibitors and over 70 million visitors are expected for this gathering, at which China hopes to show the world it is ready to take the baton of global leadership.
Following the tradition begun in 1851 in London, the site of the first World’s Fair, everything appears to be ready for Shanghai to open its doors for the grand exhibition along the banks of the Huangpu River.
The theme for this World Fair—“Better City, Better Life”—comes, appropriately, at a time when it is estimated that 60 percent of the world’s population lives in mid-sized or big cities, according to the United Nations. And so the great challenge in today’s era is learning how to design these urban centers, an arena in which Shanghai likes to be considered a forward-thinking city, especially considering it is about to launch a high-speed train to connect Beijing with Shanghai, its futuristic sister city 665 miles to the south.
This World Fair offers a fine selection of 34 Urban Best Practices Areas (UBPA), encompassing the best environmentally-sustainable solutions to urban problems. In a promising sign of success, 40 international organizations that work at solving these issues have already signed deals with the fair’s participants, ensuring that these concepts won’t be left on the drawing board and that the Shanghai Expo will leave a lasting influence on the global economy.
It seems especially appropriate that China, presently the largest producer of manufactured goods, should be the host. All the more so, given that the planet’s most overheated economy is also the one that consumes the most energy. Despite this, no one wants to waste an opportunity to be the Asian giant’s principal partner. Especially in the case of South American nations, many of which rely on Chinese demand for their raw commodities as a major pillar of their economies, and which also have an eye on the growing market of Chinese tourists. It has been estimated that in the next two years an estimated 24 million Chinese will visit Latin America.
There are therefore more than enough reasons to be paying close attention to this fair, which is spread out over more than 1,900 square miles, in five large spaces. Here’s a mini-guide for finding what shouldn’t be missed.

Shanghai’s Must-See exhibits

Denmark: The Danish pavilion was put in the hands of controversial architect Bjarke Ingels, who was awarded the contract through his office, BIG, in partnership with the Arup consulting firm. Accustomed to drawing attention, Ingels’ design is a looped building that looks like a gigantic bicycling track. In fact, in order to make one’s way around the pavilion, visitors must mount conveniently provided bicycles, which are currently as much a symbol of Denmark as the water from the Bay of Copenhagen—also featured in the building.

Spain: The Spanish pavilion is comprised of 75,000 square feet of steel and wicker, at a cost of $77 million. It is organized into three exhibition halls, whose concepts were designed by famous film directors. Bigas Luna, for example, is creator of the “From Nature to the City” area, while Basilio Martín Patino is behind the no less evocative installation, “From the City of our Fathers to the Present City.” Lastly, Isabel Coixet put all of her talent into imagining the future to create the area called “From the Present City to the City of our Sons.”

Italy: Of all of the pavilions, this is the most “architectural.” It consists of various topographical blocks that seek to represent Italian history and culture, not without criticizing the present sustainability crisis caused by uncontrolled growth. At night, its roof transforms itself into the Italian flag.

England: Designed by Heatherwick Studio, this is likely the most conceptual of all the pavilions, so much so that the English have dubbed the unusual hub the “Pavilion of Ideas,” complete with tentacles that emerge from the central body. It is comprised of a stand whose interior is lined with screens upon which all of the possible horrors of living in a city will be shown throughout the fair’s 184 days.

Chile: Developed by the Sabbagh firm, the Chile pavilion cost over $5 million to construct and is an articulation of the old childhood myth that says if you dig a deep enough hole in China you can reach all the way to Chile. True or not, the Chilean government used it to create a pavilion trench, a great transparent well—the seed of the new city—in which images of present-day Chile can be viewed.

Mexico: The Mexican pavilion, which is 43,000 square feet, is determined to be one of the most playful in Shanghai. With that in mind, the structure is based upon gigantic kites that invite one to dream of a better world.

Others from Latin America: Only a few Latin American nations chose to construct their own pavilions. The rest formed two halls not without their surprises. Panama, for example, chose to turn all of its space into a large canal. And El Salvador is working at full tilt to create a virtual volcano.

+Upward Mobility: Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron is one of those unique cars whose every model is considered a special edition. Gold Bugatti Veyrons have been spotted in locales as varied as Miami’s Brickell Avenue and Dubai. Powered by an stunningly turbocharged 16-cylinder, 1,000 horse-power engine, the Bugatti Veyron can go from 0-200 in 18 seconds (0-60 in 3 seconds), with a top speed of 253 mph, if you can find an empty road—or perhaps a desert—where you can drive that fast. Priced between $1.2 million and $2 million, the Veyron is considered the most expensive car after the Koenigsegg Trevita ($2.21 million), according to Forbes. So it’s no surprise that Bugatti, which is based in France and owned by VW, makes only 150 of each special edition. About one third of those are sold in the United States. By the way, it’s important to correct a myth about the Gold Veyron. No, its not gold-plated. And no, you can’t take it for a spin until you own one. Only certified Bugatti drivers can get behind the wheel on a test drive.

+Gourmet: Pierre Gagnaire Takes Over Las Vegas
Gagnaire is one of the world’s most famous chefs. At the forefront of the fusion movement, he has earned three Michelin stars and, thanks to his tremendous work ethic, has been able to direct several of the world’s best restaurants. Among these are London’s Sketch, the restaurant that bears his name in Paris, and those he runs in cities such as Dubai, Hong Kong and Seoul. But his arrival in the U.S. was lagging. So Gagnaire, considered one of the fathers of “molecular cuisine,” chose Twist—the new restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas—to make his U.S. debut. To reach it, step into the elevator and press floor 23. Immediately, you will be dazzled by the arresting spaces designed by Adam D. Tihany. On the ceiling, three hundred glass balloons create a celestial atmosphere, further reinforced by the glass staircase in the center of the restaurant. Then comes the best part: the food. Lobster and turbot are just two of the ingredients Gagnaire uses to continuously reinvent a style of cooking that has made a mockery of classic French cuisine. Obviously, advance reservations are a must.
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