The pavilion for Expo 2015 will be built by the company KOMA

Prague - The constructor of the Czech pavilion for Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy, will be the company Koma from Vizovice. It proposed a structure made of containers that can be used even after the exhibition. Jiří F. Potužník, the director of the Czech participation at the Expo, said this to ČTK today. Out of nine applicants for the competition, the jury disqualified five because they did not meet the conditions. The theme of the six-month world exhibition is Food for the Planet, Energy for Life.
    "We were convinced by the fact that, as one of the few proposals, it had a concept. It consists of containers that are recyclable. After the competition ends, it can be used for another purpose, it could even become a kindergarten," said the jury chairman, architect David Vávra, regarding the selection of the winner to ČTK. However, he noted that there was a mild disappointment in the jury that the competition and the opportunity to represent the country abroad did not bring significant architectural proposals, as had been the case in the past.
    In second place, the jury selected the Czech company Miba, which specializes in creating trade fair exhibits and also offers modular exhibition systems. The third place went to the company Arteo, which has already participated in the Czech pavilions at four previous world exhibitions.
    One of the companies that were disqualified from the selection process, the Italian company Studio 80 S.A.S., intends to defend itself through legal action. It was disqualified today before the proposals were assessed by the commission. Company representative Jan Voda told ČTK today that the company was again requested to provide a certificate of no criminal record, which it had already submitted.
    According to him, the office of the general commissioner requested this document again on Wednesday, December 11, stating that it should be submitted by today at 10:00. "This deadline could not be met due to legal time limits. The office disqualified Studio 80 S.A.S. even before the deadline for submitting the documents had expired," said Voda.
    The company Koma manufactures a construction system of the same name, consisting of individual prefabricated modules that are placed on a prepared site. Thus, these are modular buildings that can consist of one or several modules, can be single-story as well as multi-story, and can be low-energy. They can have various facades and are used for office buildings, schools, kindergartens, restaurants, hostels, retail stores, and apartment buildings.
    According to the procurement materials, the value of the contract for delivering the pavilion is 60 million crowns. The office of the general commissioner of the Czech participation had to repeat the selection process because no one applied in September. Preparations had already been delayed before, as the previous government of Petr Nečas (ODS) postponed its decision on participation. About a year and five months remain before the start of Expo 2015, and thus for the preparation of the pavilion.
    Firms participating in the selection process were required to propose a comprehensive solution for the Czech participation. This includes the creation and construction of the pavilion, architectural concept, project documentation, obtaining permits for creating the pavilion, realization of the internal exhibition, operation, and maintenance of the pavilion.
    The budget for the Czech participation in the exhibition should be between 180 to 210 million crowns, with funds coming not only from the state budget for the first time, but also from the private sector. The previous Expo 2010 took place in Shanghai, China, and the government allocated around half a billion crowns for it at that time.