United States Pavilion 1970 World Exposition
Osaka, Japan
Sunk partly into the ground, the elliptical U.S. Pavilion at EXPO ‘70 was roofed by the largest clear-span air-supported cable roof ever built. Made of a translucent, vinyl-coated, fiberglass fabric, the roof provided filtered natural light by day, and glowed at night. The fabric weighed one pound per square foot and was kept inflated by an internal pressure of approximately three-hundredths of a pound per square inch above the outside atmospheric pressure.
Hollowed out of the earth, the interior structure housed seven major exhibits under the general heading “Image of America.” It rose two levels with a combined floor area of 100,000 square feet and could accommodate up to 10,000 visitors an hour. For the interior structure, the excavated soil was used to create an enclosing earth berm. The project was unique collaboration between the architects and exhibit designers, Charmayeff & Geismar. The building form and its interior spaces were conceived by both offices.
Awards:
- AIA Honor Award, 1971
- Bartlett Award, 1971
- American Institute of Design International Design Award, 1970
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