scene of the signing ceremony
Hong Hao(left), director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, presents the Shanghai World Expo mascot Haibao to Paula Lehtomki, Minister of Environment of Finland.
Finland promised that visitors to its 2010 Shanghai World Expo pavilion will experience a view of a promising future that celebrates man's place in nature.
The Northern European country signed a participation contract with Expo organizers yesterday, and revealed its pavilion would be like a "kirmu," a Finnish word that means a rocky hollow formed naturally along the seashore.
Finland will attempt to capture the ideas of freedom, creativity, innovation, community, health and nature in its pavilion and exhibition. Finnish people believe the six elements compose "the beautiful life," said Pertti Huitu, Finland's commissioner general for the Expo.
Pertti Huitu, Finland's commissioner general for the Expo
Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination
The country's exhibit will be based on the theme "Sharing Inspiration", promoting ideas on how to improve people's living standards.
Kirmu also means an exchange of ideas, and Finland welcomes suggestions for a better life from the world, Huitu said.
The pavilion will be built on a 3,000-square-meter plot. The six-story building, which will include a restaurant serving Finnish food, will look like a huge white bowl and will be surrounded by a lake. Six pillars will support the bottom of the "bowl," and it will appear to be floating on the water, said chief designer Teemu Kurkela.
Visitors will be able to do some sky watching at the pavilion, as it will be an open-air structure, with a covering for rainy days. Kurkela said he wanted to give visitors the relaxing feeling of lying on an island and watching the sky.
scene of the signing ceremony
the Finland Pavilion, the "kirmu"
The Finnish government hopes to dismantle the pavilion after the Expo and move it to other places in China, Huitu said, using it as a restaurant, office building or library.
"The construction will be a reminder of the inspiration of Finland", he added.
The Finnish government has allocated about 14 million euros (US$18 million) for its participation of the Expo.
