web of the Universal Exhibition of Seville 1,992
WORLD-WIDE EXHIBITION OF LISBON 1,998
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Expo'98 was inaugurated on May 22th and was closed on September 30th by the President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio. The Exhibition has had as key piece the oceans, considered a world to discover and, in addition, an important natural reserve, highly necessary for the survival of the human race. The main objective of the participant countries was to set up a common front to conscience to the visitors on this aspect, however not all of them did it
The Universal Exhibition of Seville served like model of organization to Lisbon's. However, we have to acknowledge in every moment that the specie improves with the time, so we could add that pavilions of Lisbon were designed and prepared to grant them a suitable use in a next future (of there the little inner complexity of such), not being thus in Seville. In summary, the percentage of demolished pavilions in Seville will be the same one of not demolished in Lisbon.
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With an innovated and pleasant design, the
Oceanarium was destined to be the star-pavilion of Expo’98 (and thus it was); because
of it lodged the greater aquarium of the world and, in addition, it reproduced four
ecosystems of the world (East Indian, Pacific, Antarctic and Atlantic) with a vast animal
presence brought from those remote places. It was amazing and let good taste to the
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The last 20th century's
Exhibition has been of world-wide character, and nonuniversal like the one of Seville. In
numerous occasions people is wrong about this. In another web page we could find the one
of Seville like a “World Fair”, but this is not true (in strict sense). And,
without contempt spirits, it is necessary to make clear that Lisbon's (according to the
Office of International Exhibitions), has a world-wide quality. One of the main
differences between both is, for example, in an enclosure of size more reduced by
Lisbon’s part.
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The Pavilion of the Future left enough to wish, because it was expected much more of it. This one offered a very simple 3-D film and divided it in two parts, one by each room (who saw first was lucky). The exit of the pavilion was rather absurd. It almost could be considered like a plagiarism to the Pavilion of the Enviroment of Seville, although to disguise it this one was combined with a little laser and fine drops of water, adorning therefore the session. |
There were many similarities beteen both exhibitions:
multimedia spectacles, grouped and thematic pavilions, Jumbotron screen, rehabilitation of
an old architectonic element,... but each one of them with the peculiarity of its time.
Six years look nothing, but they have influenced a lot in technological progresses as they
are the computers, cinematographic formats or Swatch clocks with a ticket entrance
incorporated
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The Pavilion of the Virtual Reality was one of the most
visited, although its hours of sun queue and the 800 $ that the entrance costed caused
that somebody thought it before entering, but completely satisfied were the patient
visitors who left there. |
To avoid the masification that sometimes was caused in
Seville, the organizers of Lisbon’s decided that nobody could accede to the Expo with
the same entrance (unless had a season’s ticket), so the visitor was himself forced
to enjoy his limited time if he feld tired at any moment, as well as he had to consume
within the enclosure (with the high expenses that it entailed) to palliate the high
temperatures.
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The Pavilion of the Utopy was one of most successful of
the Expo’98. A spectacle based on the theater representation, special effects and
sound was celebrated inside, which took about thirty minutes. The spectacles were
celebrated every three hours. The capacity of the Pavilion was of 10,000 people. The
building was known by its form of turtle, and its wood details made it more beautiful from
within. Because of its enormous size, it gives a true sensation of utopic building; to
enter there was to enter in the world of the utopy. In a exhibition where the main subject has a hard
relationship to the water, nothing better than a Pavilion of the Water. To leave from
there was necessary to draw for some water spurts which crossed the way, but anybody
didn't know where they were from. The soaking could be assured. |
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Not only Portugal of the Iberian
Peninsule, but also the one which is distributed by the world gave appointment in Lisbon.
With independent pavilions were Azores Islands, Madeira or even the colony of Macao, this
last one, with a traditional facade. On the other hand, we could also find pavilions of
Portuguese organizations or the Pavilion of the Territory. |
The official language of the Expo’98 was, logically, the Portuguese, but English was relegated to a third place, since greater importance was granted to him to the Spanish, since the great majority of tourists who showed Lisbon was Spanish. In fact, of 8'5 million visits that the enclosure hoped (although really were more), assumed that 3 million were going to be of Spaniards.
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The Pavilion of Portugal included under its pergoles thickness curves the Ceremonies Square, where the Honor Day of each country, province or company would be celebrated. Also in this Square the visitors waited to accede to the pavilion. It mainly narrated the adventures that the navigators suffered of the medieval time in search of new routes to arrive sooner at their destinies, as well as the importance that was granted to the world of navigation. It was one of most complete as far as quality in the audio-visual means, thanks to the infografy. |
Nor Australia nor New Zealand attended to the exhibition. Both are countries very enclosed to the world of the sea. However, countries like Belarus, Somalia or Irak could bring and show to the visitors their poor but enough contents.
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The new towers of Lisbon. The Galp Tower is one of the elements that was decided to conserve for the Expo’98. The lands on which it is based had belonged to the petroliferous industry, soon this tower was used for these uses. It was reformed and it serves now like viewpoint. To accede to it costed around 700 portuguese $. The Vasco de Gama Tower is visible from any point of
Lisbon. It is a viewpoint with revolving restaurant which only to accede costed around 400
portuguese $.
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Gil, the mascot of the
Expo’98 received its name from a consultation made between all the children of
schools of Lisbon, that were who chose it. The Julio Verne Theater was the main
scene of cultural events of greater relevance. For example, Spain celebrated its day of
honor (the 25th of Jule) celebrating,
among other acts, a concert with Alfredo Kraus like representing artist. Another one of the good example taken
from the 92 is the streets of the Expo’98, which were thought to offer the maximum
coolness against the high temperatures of the summer. The trees still gave an insufficient
shade, but the volcanos gave good wet to the valiant visitors who under them were located. |
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