EXPO 2027 TO BE HELD IN SERBIA WITH A FENWICK IRIBARREN ARCHITECTS PROJECT

This Expo will take place between May 15th and August 15th, 2027, under the motto “Game for Humanity: Sports and Music for All,” located southwest of the city near Nikola Tesla Airport and the Sava River, in an area of the city undergoing expansion and growth. The venue will feature 170,000 m² of commercial, leisure, restaurants, and rest areas.

The project carried out by Fenwick Iribarren Architects is based on seven large exhibition pavilions to host different participating countries. Additionally, an outdoor area will include various national pavilions from different countries, three thematic pavilions, and the National Pavilion of Serbia. Once completed, the Expo will be able to continue operating as a traditional trade fair, as the large pavilions can be reused for concerts or performances, while the exterior pavilions will be dismantled, leaving an open space to support the fair.

The complex is centred around a large square where the National Pavilion of Serbia will be located. From here, visitors can access the other pavilions through wide avenues with green areas. Furthermore, the project is designed under a philosophy if user well-being, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency through solar and wind energy utilization and water treatment.

Description of the project by Fenwick Iribarren Architects

The project by Spanish architects Fenwick Iribarren secures Serbia’s victory for Expo 2027.

Its innovative design, similar to that of the revolutionary 974 recyclable stadium in Qatar, allows Belgrade to beat the candidacy of Malaga.

The Spanish firm Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FIA), creator of the innovative 974 stadium that gained international admiration during the recent Qatar World Cup, has designed and developed the project presented by Serbia for the Expo Belgrade 2027, surpassing other candidates, including the city of Malaga.

The Expo will be held between May 15th and August 15th, 2027, under the motto “Game for Humanity: Sports and Music for All,”  The new venue will be located southwest of the city, close to Nikola Tesla Airport and the Sava River, in an area of expansion and city growth.

The project by Fenwick Iribarren has been carried out in partnership with the engineering company Massino Projekt and includes an area of 170,000 square meters. It features a landmark entrance building and pergolas reminiscent of the mountains near Belgrade, housing cafes, restaurants, and office & residential spaces.

The overall design is based on a large fairground with green and exhibition spaces, serving as the legacy of this Expo for the city. There is also an external area with demountable pavilions, combining future and sustainability. In total, there will be seven large exhibition pavilions for different participating countries, along with various national pavilions, three thematic pavilions, and the National Pavilion of Serbia. Additionally, the complex is expected to host the new National Stadium of Belgrade next to the fairground.

Once completed, the Expo can continue to operate as a traditional fairground, as the large pavilions can be reused for concerts or various performances, while the exterior pavilions will be dismantled, leaving an open space to support the fair.

This concept of demountable and reusable buildings is the same used by Fenwick Iribarren in the 974 stadiums at the recent Qatar World Cup. That project, along with the Al Thumama and Education City stadiums, garnered global attention for its innovative and sustainable nature. The studio received the Spanish Professional Excellence Gold Medal for the work done at the Qatar World Cup.

In terms of configuration, the Expo 2027 complex in Belgrade is distributed around a large square, Tesla Square, where a large dome housing the National Pavilion of Serbia will be installed. From this square, visitors can access the pavilions through large avenues with numerous green and landscaped areas. Tesla Square will be crowned by an installation paying homage to the Serbian engineer, a highly recognized figure in the country. Numerous sculptures and artworks distributed throughout the exterior surfaces will coexist as areas of fun and play.

The Most Sustainable Expo in History

Adjacent to the main entrance is a large communications hub with taxi and municipal and tourist bus stops, as well as an area for bicycles. Various means of transportation are also available to facilitate internal circulation throughout the Expo venue.

The project is designed under the “Blue Architecture” philosophy of the Fenwick Iribarren studio, which places great emphasis on the well-being of users and humanizes spaces. The design also prioritizes the sustainability and energy efficiency of the venue. The Belgrade Expo will be the first in history to maximize the use of solar energy, with numerous solar panels in parking areas and on high points of the pavilions. The complex will be certified with maximum efficiency in the treatment of irrigation and wastewater and will use wind energy as part of its supply sources. It features an innovative air conditioning system that distributes air through benches and seats located in the venue.

The venue also includes extensive commercial spaces, leisure/rest areas, as well as numerous dining and service areas. In total, it has almost 10,000 square meters of dining and 4,600 square meters of commercial areas. It also contemplates the provision of ancillary services (lost and found office, medical dispensary, etc.) to enhance visitor comfort. Numerous parking spaces are distributed throughout the venue, managed by intelligent systems and equipped with electric charging points.