An Analysis of the Evolution of Architectural Expression in Iran's World Expo Pavilions

Abstract

National pavilions at World Expos, as the primary architectural manifestations of nations on the international stage, play a pivotal role in representing national culture, identity, and capabilities. Despite extensive research on the history, symbolism, and architectural themes of these pavilions, the concept of “architectural expression” and its evolution over time has received limited attention, lacking a cohesive analytical framework. This study aims to delineate the dimensions of the “architectural expression” of Iranian pavilions and analyze their evolutionary trajectory in World Expos.

In the first phase, through a systematic literature review, initial dimensions of architectural expression were extracted and validated by experts in the fields of architecture and world exhibitions. A framework consisting of five dimensions was established: mode of reference, richness of references, focus of expression, coherence of expression, and orientation of expression. Subsequently, all Iranian pavilions at World Expos from 1873 to 2020 were coded, scored, and analyzed based on this framework.

The findings reveal three distinct patterns in the evolution of the architectural expression of Iranian pavilions: “predominance of reconstruction and formal expression,” “inception of synthesis and the pursuit of a transitional language,” and “conceptual reinterpretation and interactive expression.” Consequently, the architectural expression of Iranian pavilions has shifted over nearly a century and a half from direct, physical representation of Persian architecture toward conceptual, experience-oriented, and interactive expression; however, this evolution does not follow a linear or uniform trajectory. The results indicate that all five dimensions of architectural expression have undergone an evolutionary process, albeit at varying rates, with the most significant transformations observed in the mode of reference, focus of expression, and orientation of expression. The proposed framework serves as a versatile tool for the comparative analysis of architectural expression in other national pavilions and exhibition architecture.