The Beehive-inspired structure was named winner of the Gold Medal in the architecture and landscape category for buildings under 2,000m² on the last day of the world trade fair.

Cristián Undurraga’s Chilean pavilion meanwhile won second prize and the Czech Republic’s pavilion by Chybik + Kristof Architects and Urban Designers was awarded bronze.

The announcement comes five years after Thomas Heatherwick’s £26 million ‘seed cathedral’ was named top pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.


Buttress’ UK pavilion resembles a giant beehive at the centre of a wildflower meadow, and is inspired by the crucial role played by bees and pollination in providing the world’s food supply.

Visitors enter through an orchard set within a courtyard space enclosed by high gabion walls. Once through the meadow, visitors enter the hive structure made from a lattice of 169,300 pieces of aluminium and steel.

BDP architects, landscape, lighting and sustainability consultants designed the pavilion as part of a team led by the Nottingham-based artist and including contractor Stage One and structural engineer Tristan Simmonds.

Read AJ editor Rory Olcayto’s first reaction to Milan 2015 Expo here.