Seville Expo '92

Last updated
1992 Sevilla
Expo-92 logo.svg
Expo 92 03.jpg
Panorama of the pavilions on the Lago de España at Expo'92 Seville
Overview
BIE-classUniversal exposition
NameExposición Universal de Sevilla 1992
MottoThe era of discoveries
Area215 hectares (530 acres)
Visitors41,814,571
Organized by Manuel Olivencia
MascotCurro
Participant(s)
Countries112
Location
CountrySpain
City Sevilla
Venue Isla de la Cartuja
Coordinates 37°24′30″N6°0′1″W / 37.40833°N 6.00028°W / 37.40833; -6.00028
Timeline
BiddingMarch 3, 1982 (1982-03-03)
AwardedDecember 8, 1982 (1982-12-08)
OpeningApril 20, 1992 (1992-04-20)
ClosureOctober 12, 1992 (1992-10-12)
Universal expositions
Previous Expo '70 in Osaka
Next Expo '98 in Lisbon
Specialized expositions
Previous Expo 91 in Plovdiv
Next Taejon Expo '93 in Taejon
Horticultural expositions
Previous Expo '90 in Osaka
Next 1993 World Horticultural Exposition in Stuttgart
Simultaneous
Specialized Genoa Expo '92
Horticultural (AIPH) Floriade 1992
Internet
Website www.expo92.es

The Seville Expo '92 was a universal exposition that took place from Monday, April 20 to Monday, October 12, 1992, on La Isla de La Cartuja (Charterhouse Island), Seville, Spain. The theme for the expo was "The Age of Discovery", celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus reaching the Americas after launching from Seville's port (on the Guadalquivir), and over 100 countries were represented. The total amount of land used for the expo was 215 hectares (530 acres) and the total number of visitors was 41,814,571. [1] The exposition ran at the same time as the smaller and shorter-duration Genoa Expo '92, a Specialized Exhibition, held in memory of Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa.

Contents

Joint exposition proposal with Chicago

Expo'92 was organized to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus (1492–1992). The exposition was to be jointly held with the City of Chicago, however, due to national, state, and local funding difficulties, Chicago did not accept the offer.

Site

Expo'92 Seville was widely known for its massive site, held at the Isla de la Cartuja, reputed site of reference for Columbus for his voyage to the New World, and required at least several days to visit most of the pavilions. It was also known for its numerous spectacular gates and bridges, and the diversity of transport within the expo site from bus to ferry boat, to cable car and monorail. It also gave an impressive architectural tour of the world, with many countries vying for the position of the most inventive or creative pavilion structure - outstanding amongst these was the Pavilion of Japan - the world's largest wooden structure, the Pavilion of Morocco, a re-creation of a Moroccan Palace-Mansion, and the modernistic cube and sphere of the flagship Spanish Pavilion, to name a few. The most popular pavilions with visitors were those of Spain and Canada.

The event was directed by Manuel Olivencia. "Long-term benefits [to Seville] will include new airports in Seville and Jerez, airport renovation in Málaga, a new port and train station here, new railroad lines, trains and highways, not to mention a completely new infrastructure," Olivencia said. He also saw time as an issue with planning of the event, as well as staff changes. Olivencia prevented the United States from having the largest pavilion: "we as hosts intend to have the largest". [2]

Pavilions

Spanish pavilion Pabellon de Espana expo 92.jpg
Spanish pavilion

Pavilions at the expo consisted of the Royal Pavilion and the five thematic pavilions - Navigation, Discovery, Nature, Environment, and the Fifteenth Century; the flagship Spanish and Andalusian pavilions at the Lake of Spain; the Spanish Autonomous Regions pavilions all along the Lake of Spain; over 100 international pavilions; and numerous corporate pavilions.

In particular, the Discoveries Pavilion featured an Omnimax Theatre, where a Spanish government commissioned theme film, Eureka!, made by Greg MacGillivray and Jon Boorstin, based on The Discoverers, by Daniel J. Boorstin was presented. The first IMAX film to use a light-weight hand held camera (with a steadicam), it won the principal creative award at the fair.

The Pavilion of the Future was constructed in part with post-tensioned stone arches.

To offset costs by developing nations, and to allow a 'first-ever' representation by every South American nation, a special monumental structure, the 'Plaza de Américas' was constructed, a large enclosed Plaza-type building in a rustic red colour which also hosted a special Exhibition on the Gold of South America. A 'Plaza de África' was also created to allow maximum participation from developing African states.

The HD-MAC standard, an early analog high-definition television system, was demonstrated at the expo. [3]

Mascot

Curro was the mascot for the fair. It has the shape of a big white bird with the legs of an elephant, whose long conical beak and crest had the colours of the rainbow.

It was created by German designer Heinz Edelmann (who is best known for his work on the 1968 animated film, Yellow Submarine), who also gave it the name Curro, an Andalusian pet form of Spanish male name Francisco. [1]

It was presented officially in the Plaza de España of Seville, in a big fest of light and sound on the 20 April 1990, two years before the Fair's inauguration.

Climate control

The hot Sevillian summer was largely abated by a microfilter water air conditioning system throughout the site, principally along the main avenues and streets, under canopied sections both of tensile fabric and greenery. Visitors were sprayed with cool mist in various locations, and could make use of the numerous fountains and wading pools to cool off.

Post-expo, the expo site today

At the conclusion of the expo, many of the pavilions were dismantled, and today the site is divided between a research and development park called Cartuja 93 and a theme park called Isla Mágica, the 'Magic Island', [1] which also hosts the popular Pavilion of Spain. The Government of Canada donated the Canadian Pavilion for use as a new trade school.

One can walk throughout Cartuja 93 for free, however, admission to the Isla Mágica requires an entrance fee.

Countries represented

Lake of Spain Lago Expo92 Sevilla.jpg
Lake of Spain
Avenue of Europe Avenue de l'Europe Expo Seville 1992.JPG
Avenue of Europe
Japanese pavilion Pabellon de japon expo 92.jpg
Japanese pavilion
    1. Moroccan pavilion Pabellon Hassan II (1992).jpg
      Moroccan pavilion
      {{ }}

Over one hundred nations were represented at the expo, making it one of the largest ever hosted up to that time.

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References

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  2. Delaney, Paul (1 February 1989). "Seville Journal; Expo 92's Promise: New Life or Stale Gazpacho?". The New York Times . Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  3. https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_254-tejerina.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. "World Song". pyramidmedia.com.
  5. "1992 World's Fair, Seville, Spain: USA Pavilion, World Song" (PDF). BRC Imagination Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-19.
  6. "Ameriflora 1992: World Song" (PDF). BRC Imagination Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-19.
  7. 1 2 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Beard, David. "After $31 Million, Puerto Rico Unloads Fair Pavilion For $4 Million", AP News , San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15 July 1992. Retrieved on 18 May 2019.
  9. Sokolov, Raymond (24–25 April 1992). "Expo '92: America Missed the Boat". The Wall Street Journal Europe: 11.