We were appointed to work with the Italian firm to catalogue its extensive works for nations at World Expositions
Within our team, we have a deep knowledge of construction but also a love for the creative word. We’ve already ticked the novel-writing box and have a taste for more novels to come. So, when the opportunity arose to combine the three, we got a little giddy at the thought.
And the opportunity to help deliver a 100-page book for Italian construction firm RIMOND, telling the story of how they have worked with countries from around the world to deliver some of the most breath-taking buildings at the world-renowned Expos.
World Expos occur once every five years and last up to six months in the hosting city, where the Expo site will be visited by many millions of people. They provide platforms where countries and organisations can showcase themselves, whether through the services they offer and philosophies they currently follow or their visions for the future on the biggest issues of the day.
To turn heads and impress up to 25 million visitors, you need to have a base, or a pavilion as they are referred to, that impresses. This can be through creating an impressively large or ornate structure, whether it’s big and shouty or simple and elegant, or by being technologically advanced, interactive or carbon neutral.
RIMOND approached Ashdown enquiring whether the prospect of writing the content for the book would be of interest. The written content would make up 43 of the 100 pages, with the remainder of the pages being supported by images and photographs.
It was a proposal made in heaven, as Ashdown Media’s construction experience and knowledge meant that we could understand and articulate the complexities of the technical aspects of the projects and get that down on the page as informative and interesting text.
Ashdown Media’s challenge was to create the 10,000-plus words that would make up 12 chapters. This commenced with a welcoming message from RIMOND’s CEO, Giuseppe Antonio Chiarandà, followed by an introduction to World Expos; next came individual chapters on each of the eight pavilions the company had constructed and a final section on the legacy and learnings of the Expo projects.
As the pavilions differed in scope and scale, so did the chapter sizes. The largest and most in-depth was the Al Wasl Plaza Trellis at Expo Dubai 2020. The Trellis was the centrepiece of the Expo 2020 and its chapter consisted of eight written pages of content.
To extract the details and secrets of each project, Ashdown interviewed those involved, from project managers to RIMOND’s clients. We were provided with some client information from RIMOND but also needed to undertake a deep dive into the available digital resources to find extra content. In the case of the Al Wasl Plaza Trellis, we interviewed RIMOND’s project engineer and the health and safety manager due to the incredible complexities of the design and construction of the project.
A late night video call (or an early morning one, depending on which side of the screen you were) with New Zealand’s ambassador to Expo 2020 at his home in Auckland gave a great insight into the project. Talking to the ambassador provided great content for the Kiwi chapter and highlighted the lasting impression he had of working with this very conscientious construction firm.
With the interviews having been so successful, we were able to produce a number of extended and spin-off articles that can be used as part of RIMOND’s wider marketing.
The projects and pavilions covered within the book included:
1. Al Wasl Plaza Trellis at Expo Dubai 2020
2. UAE Pavilion at Expo 2015
3. Bahrain Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
4. Spain Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
5. New Zealand Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
6. CasAgusta VIP Helipad Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
7. Finland Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
8. KIP International School Pavilion at Expo Milan 2015
Matthew Griffiths, Founder of Ashdown Media, said: “This was a truly exciting project to be part of. A permanent memento of these incredible Expo pavilions and what goes into designing and constructing them, in often incredibly demanding conditions, like Expo 2020, which was built in the desert of Dubai and under the constraints of COVID-2019.
“The RIMOND team we got to work with were very helpful, informative and impressive: clearly leaders in their marketplace.
“Some of the projects that RIMOND undertook were fascinating to learn about, such as the structure and erection process of the huge dome for the Al Wasl Plaza Trellis at Expo Dubai 2020. The interviews carried out for that project with Lorenzo Pirone, BIM Manager & Design Coordinator, and Peter Gad, Health and Safety Manager – Middle East, were truly inspirational.
We must offer huge thanks for the support of marketing guru Sophie Thomas and project manager extraordinaire Mert Cek for their time and support throughout the project, particularly Mert for the many hours of interviews he sat through and the hundreds of questions that he patiently and expertly answered for us.”
留言