Dubai Expo 2020: How the PH ‘Bangkóta’ Pavilion was Inspired by Coral Reefs

As a testament to the Modern Filipino, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2020 Dubai Expo proudly takes its place among the other nations of the world

The Philippine Pavilion at the 2020 Dubai Expo cuts an imposing presence. At 18.5m high from the ground on a 3,000sqm lot in the Cap Sustainability zone, it is the second tallest pavilion in the 600-hectare expo. Its architect did not dream of anything less.

“If we were to stand proudly as Filipinos, I could not build something that will be dwarfed by the pavilions beside us,” says Royal Pineda, of Budji+Royal Architecture+Design and director of the Philippine Pavilion. But his vision met a major challenge at the onset: a comparatively low budget of PHP270 million. So, he created “a mirage”, a see-through overlapping mesh on top of the main pavilion, which provided both an aesthetic purpose and practical use as it served as structural protection from the heat of the Dubai sun.

Pineda’s peg was the coral reef. “I looked for that one thing that defines the Filipino, a definition that is without any pretention or reservation,” he shares the thoughts that went through his head as he pondered over the invitation to bid from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). “One of nature’s many gifts to us is our coral reefs. Are we not the centre of marine diversity in the world? No one can take that away from us.”

He named it bangkòta, derived from the ancient Pilipino word for coral reef. He filled it with artworks by nine Philippine visual artists, pieces by four performing artists, animations and audio-visuals, a store of exclusive local crafts and a coffee shop of Filipino foods. Philippine culture permeated not only the 1,300sqm enclosed area but up the walkway to the top of the mesh, for a total of 2,500sqm of modern Philippine culture to soak in.

Above The Bangkota was inspired by coral reefs in the Philippines (Photo: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels)

To the artists who participated, the architect had only one request: “Go back to 4,000 years, even before the foreign influence arrived. From that root, evolve into modern ideas of Philippine culture.” Thus, if the pavilion is devoid of the traditional images of the bahay kubo, the tinikling and the kundiman perhaps, it nevertheless pulsates with the spirit of the Filipino through modern interpretations of sights and sounds.

Above The Dubai Expo 2020 pavilions will showcase global innovations in sustainability and design (Photo: The Architect's Newspaper)

The Philippines Pavilion is an authentic product of one of Pineda’s design concepts: Practical Luxury. It simply involves reinterpreting a traditional image into something modern and luxurious looking. “Basically, we could be luxurious by design. We have resources, we have creativity. We can create luxury,” he stresses.

Always improving on what is available and what is natural while staying rooted to the essence of Filipino culture and letting the creativity flow, Pineda used materials and labour available in Dubai to interpret and execute Filipino creativity.

The strategy proved wise in both cost savings and smooth production, for when the pandemic struck in early 2020 the construction was not hampered by any problems with importation.

A source of Philippine pride, indeed, in more ways than one. The Philippines Pavilion is a testament of Filipino creativity finding its place among the nations at the 2020 Dubai Expo. The postponed quinquennial opens October 1, 2021 and will end on March 31, 2022.

Tatler Asia

Dubai Expo 2020: How the PH ‘Bangkóta’ Pavilion was Inspired by Coral Reefs