Question and Answer

1. Is it permissible to omit façade walls in the design of small pavilions?

Yes. According to the Expo 2027 design documentation, omitting or not installing façade walls in small (S-type) pavilion designs is permitted, provided the exhibition concept employs an open layout or a scenographic approach that does not require physical partitions.

However, the following conditions and limitations must be strictly observed:

• Distinction between wall types: Participants may modify or omit pavilion façade walls facing public areas, but demising walls—the lateral and rear boundaries of the pavilion—are absolutely non-modifiable, non-removable, and cannot be structurally altered.

• Compliance with safety and circulation standards: Removing walls must not compromise technical regulations, visitor circulation flows, or safety standards. Additionally, if the design adopts an open layout, designers must fully address acoustic comfort implications to avoid disturbing neighboring pavilions.

Although the Expo organizer provides the basic façade wall structure for S-type pavilions, participants retain full design autonomy to reimagine the façade as three-dimensional, transparent (e.g., glass), or entirely open.

Designing these pavilions is analogous to arranging furniture in a room: you may reconfigure interior layouts and entryways freely, but you cannot alter the building’s primary load-bearing walls.

2. What is the minimum allowable height for constructing a mezzanine floor?

According to Expo 2027 technical guidelines, height requirements for mezzanine (intermediate) floors in small pavilions are as follows:

• Minimum permitted height: Mezzanines must not be installed at levels lower than 5 meters above the ground floor.

• Maximum permitted height: All structures and equipment installed on the mezzanine must remain below the pavilion ceiling, which is fixed at 10 meters.

• Floor limitations: Given the pavilion’s total height of 10 meters, only two levels (ground floor + one mezzanine) are permitted to maximize usable space.

Key technical and execution requirements for mezzanine construction:

• Structural independence: The mezzanine structure must be fully supported by the floor slab. Anchoring, fixing, or connecting the mezzanine to demising walls or prefabricated façade walls is strictly prohibited.

• Fire safety: Participants installing a mezzanine must add supplementary fire suppression equipment (sprinklers) and smoke detectors beneath the mezzanine ceiling. Additionally, the mezzanine floor must achieve a fire-resistance rating of REI 60.

• Stair specifications: Stairs connecting the ground floor to the mezzanine must be at least 130 cm wide and constructed from non-slip materials.

Essentially, designing a mezzanine in these pavilions is like placing a bunk bed in a room with very high ceilings: the upper level must be at least 5 meters above the floor and supported only by floor-mounted legs—without leaning on or connecting to the room’s walls.

3. What is the maximum permitted height for pavilion design and construction?

According to Expo 2027 design and construction documentation, the maximum allowable pavilion height varies by type and function, but for individual pavilions it is uniform:

• Maximum permitted height: All individual pavilions (small, medium, and large) have a uniform height limit of 10 meters.

• Non-modifiability: This 10-meter height is a fixed parameter and cannot be altered or exceeded under any circumstances.

• Structural details: Pavilion walls are constructed up to 10 meters, while the metal roof structure is positioned at 10.50 meters.

All interior layouts, galleries, and additional levels (e.g., mezzanines) must therefore be designed to remain strictly below the 10-meter ceiling.

Important considerations for vertical design:

• Roof anchoring points (Strong Points): Individual pavilions include pre-installed roof anchoring points, each with a maximum load capacity of 500 kg.

• Exposed MEP systems: Most pavilions do not include a default suspended ceiling, so mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems remain exposed. Designers must therefore account for the space occupied by ducts and utility conduits in their height calculations.

In simple terms, designing individual pavilions is like working inside a 10-meter-tall box—you have considerable freedom to create mezzanines, but everything must fit within this fixed vertical envelope.

4. Who is responsible for designing and installing the internal HVAC distribution system?

According to Expo 2027 design and construction guidelines, responsibility for internal HVAC system design and execution depends on pavilion type, but generally falls on the participant.

Specific responsibilities are detailed as follows:

Small pavilions:

Participants bear full responsibility for designing and installing the internal HVAC distribution network.

• What the organizer provides: The organizer supplies the main interface point—a ventilation duct equipped with a VAV (Variable Air Volume) regulator—to precisely control airflow up to the pavilion boundary (i.e., the demising wall adjacent to the MEP corridor).

• What the participant must provide: Participants must design and install all internal ductwork, air terminals (diffusers/grilles), and control systems in alignment with their pavilion’s interior layout.

• Costs: All expenses related to internal distribution and any customized HVAC modifications are borne entirely by the participant.

Key technical notes for designers:

• Exposed MEP systems: Since suspended ceilings are not provided by default in individual pavilions, the entire HVAC distribution network will be exposed. Designers must therefore integrate the visual appearance of these systems into their interior décor.

• Suspended ceilings: If participants choose to install a suspended ceiling, they must ensure it does not obstruct the fire suppression (sprinkler) system. In such cases, an additional layer of MEP systems must be installed below the new ceiling.

• Design approval: All internal HVAC execution drawings must be submitted to and approved by the organizer prior to installation.

In simple terms, the organizer delivers the “main air valve” up to your pavilion’s entrance, but how that air is distributed through ducts to interior spaces is entirely your responsibility.

5. Is the internal MEP network in the pavilion designed as exposed (visible) by the participant?

Yes. According to Expo 2027 design documentation, internal MEP networks are default designed as exposed (visible), although participants may elect to conceal them at their own cost.

Technical details are as follows:

• Ceiling-mounted services (electrical, mechanical, fire suppression): The organizer does not install suspended ceilings in pavilions. Therefore, all commercial systems—including HVAC ducts, electrical wiring, and fire sprinkler piping—are visibly installed in the overhead space. Designers must account for both the visual and functional aspects of these exposed services in their interior design.

• Floor-mounted services (water and sewage): Since pavilion floors consist of a pre-cast 30 cm concrete slab with a final epoxy finish, any piping extending from utility access points (floor inspection hatches) to other areas will naturally be surface-mounted on the finished floor.

• Option to conceal services (at participant’s expense): If participants prefer to hide visible services, they may undertake the following at their own cost:

   ◦ Suspended ceilings: Participants may install suspended ceilings, but must then add a secondary layer of sprinklers and smoke detectors beneath the new ceiling.

   ◦ Raised access floors: To conceal water and sewage pipes, participants may overlay the existing slab with OSB or plywood panels to create a secondary floor, subject to organizer approval.

   ◦ Interior wall cladding: To vertically route services, participants may construct interior partition walls or apply cladding to existing walls to conceal pipes and cables.

In summary, the organizer delivers pavilions in an “industrial, open” state—where MEP systems are as visible as veins on the skin of a building. If you wish to hide these “veins,” you must add interior finishes (e.g., suspended or raised floors) yourself.

6. Given that Iran’s pavilion falls under the small pavilion category, is a ramp to the second floor mandatory?

Regarding small pavilions at Expo 2027, accessibility requirements and second-floor (mezzanine) provisions are as follows:

1. Necessity of second-floor accessibility

• Universal access: If you construct a mezzanine or second floor in an S-type pavilion, universal design principles require that all areas of this level be equally accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities.

• Non-discriminatory experience: Accessibility must be ensured for all zones on the upper level (e.g., exhibition areas or lounges) so that no visitor is excluded from any part of the pavilion experience due to physical limitations.

2. Ramp or platform lift options

• Ramp gradient: If using a ramp to connect the ground floor to the mezzanine, the slope must not exceed 2.5%. Given that mezzanines in S-type pavilions must be constructed at a minimum height 5 meters above ground, a compliant ramp would require substantial linear space—likely impractical within the S-type pavilion’s 324 m² footprint.

• Platform lifts: For this reason, the organizer recommends using certified, easy-to-operate platform lifts with clear signage wherever standard-compliant ramps are unfeasible.

3. Entrance and surface requirements

• Entrance widths: If your S-type pavilion has multiple entrances/exits, each must provide a clear width of at least 120 cm to accommodate wheelchairs.

• Thresholds and flooring: Entrances must feature flush thresholds, and the entire visitor circulation path must be free of abrupt level changes or stairs without accessible alternatives.

• Flooring materials: Non-slip finishes are mandatory for both pavilion floors and mezzanine stairs.

4. Mezzanine structural requirements for S-type pavilions

• Minimum height: The mezzanine must be installed no lower than 5 meters above the ground floor.

• Full structural independence: The mezzanine and its stairs must rest entirely on the concrete floor slab and must not be anchored or connected to prefabricated demising walls under any circumstances.

• Stair dimensions: Complementary stairs (used alongside lifts) must be at least 130 cm wide.

In summary, for a small pavilion, installing a standard-compliant ramp to a 5-meter-high mezzanine is spatially impractical due to the length required by the 2.5% slope limit. Therefore, using a certified platform lift is the more logical and space-efficient solution for ensuring accessibility to the second floor.