On May the first the pavilion Venice has built for the 2010 Shanghai Expo has officially opened. The exhibition space in the UBPA section of the expo is about 500 square meters and is placed in a central position in the B1 pavilion, close to the city of Liverpool, Cairo, Suzhou, Hagzhou and Pondicherry.

The pavilion is completely dedicated to the Protection and Utilization of Historical Heritage. Marked by technology and innovation the space will host a series of event from May 1st to October 31st:
 permanent exhibitions will display the case study proposed by Venice under the category “Protection and Utilization of Historical Heritage”: Porto Marghera, Arsenale and minor areas in the historical centre;
 temporary exhibitions to promote productive excellences at the basis of the organization of specific economic missions or to promote productive excellences as a result of the specific commitment of institutions, professional associations or internationally active companies;
 reception of visitors and authorities;
 development of for profit activities: products display, merchandizing, gadgets distribution and basic catering activities.

The project proposal is illustrated by means of five documentary films played on touch-screen monitors. These documentaries show five “best practices” examples developed in Venice: from Porto Marghera’s requalification with the example of Vega to the reshaping of the Arsenale, San Servolo and Certosa Islands and Giudecca. The stand is designed as a two-storey structure, one part is more “spectacular” with a central “dark room” where a full-size hologram illustrate Venice’s case projecting a 3D short film.

Eight of the sixteen university students selected by Ca’ Foscari and IUAV Universities to work in the pavilion are already in Shanghai. They will guide visitors and illustrate Venice’s strong points in terms of urban transformation. The first appointment will take place between the 22nd and the 30th of May and it will be focused on “Tourism”. This first event will launch the program that includes a total amount of five economic missions aimed at the definition of new commercial and/or industrial collaboration between Venice and China.

Following four other missions: “Logistics” from 6 to 12 June, “Environment” from 3 to 11 July, “Productive Districts” from 11 to 19 September and in the end “Urban Transformations: products and innovative techniques” from 9 to 17 October.