Designers of the Hong Kong pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo say the structure helps to magnify Hong Kong’s infinite potential regardless of the city’s physical constraints.

Ida Sze Ki-shan and partner Billy Chan Wai-ching, collectively known as Ida & Billy, saw many similarities between the constraints of the concept design competition for the Hong Kong pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, and the city of Hong Kong itself, when they put their minds together in 2008 to come up with a winning idea.

They beat 80 other submissions evaluated by a seven-member panel headed by Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen to provide the blueprint for the pavilion. Sze and Chan, who have been collaborating on projects for more than 10 years, knew exactly what to incorporate in a limited amount of space – just like how our city manages to fit skyscrapers and other landmarks into a small landmass.

To fit on a site area of 637 square metres, the duo split the pavilion into three storeys while respecting a given height limit, with each storey representing a different “level” of the city.  Dedicating a weekend lunch to talk to The PEAK, Sze walks us through, while partner Chan is on duty in Switzerland, the pair’s original visions of showcasing Hong Kong to the world.

A celebratory mood pervades Shanghai as the city welcomes millions to the World Expo, but to experience the big moment visitors would be well advised to figure out the ins and outs.

All of Shanghai is immersed in a jolly atmosphere as the city welcomes  millions to the World Expo. Banners are flying in every corner in the city, while the expo mascot Haibao adorns buildings and is on display on roadsides.  In some major shopping arcades, it is not surprising to find posters advising citizens about courtesy and manners. Some even list simple conversations in English.

The two expo sites at Pudong and Puxi are separated into five zones: Pavilions of the organiser, theme pavilions and participating countries are mostly in Pudong, while Urban Best Practices Area and corporate pavilions are in Puxi.

The showpiece, the China Pavilion, called “the Crown of the East”, with its striking red roof made of interlocking brackets, will demonstrate the charm of ancient China, reflect achievements of reforms over the past 30 years, and demonstrate how China tackles challenges of urbanisation in a sustainable way and develop low-carbon technologies. One of the highlights is the magnificent tour, through which visitors can experience the masterpiece “Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival”. In the experience trip, an excursion train will allow visitors to view the architecture of ancient China during a 10-minute ride.

Movements with greater power reserves, sapphire crystal dials, combinations of complications, chronographs with minutes and seconds, mark the technical and aesthetic innovations that were visible in watches that took the spotlight at BASELWORLD. Some brands revisited their successful models, while others introduced movements they themselves developed. Some others celebrated their milestones by reinterpreting their collections with new models.