Barcelona will share its experience in setting up a new district while protecting its historic city center at the Urban Best Practices Area at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

In the 1980s the Barcelona government preserved more than 100 historic buildings in its Ciutat Vella district to keep its medieval feel, while at the same time improving the lives of residents.

It also turned the neighboring Poblenou district into a high-tech park and business center that has attracted global investment, said Ignasi Cardelus, Councillor for International Relations of Barcelona City Council.

The pavilion consists of a 60-meter long corridor covered in mirrors, housing five cubes which can be used as light sources or video screens showing films about Barcelona's landscape and people's daily lives.

The corridor, mirrors and cubes should make the pavilion look like an endless audio-visual experience, said Diego Sebastian, technical director of the pavilion.

The pavilion's ceiling will show the Barcelona sky live via satellite. A screen at the end of the pavilion will show Barcelona's sunrise and sunset.

The pavilion will also offer authentic food from the city and singers will give performances.

An artist's rendition of the pavilion [expo2010.cn]

An artist's rendition of the pavilion [expo2010.cn]

An artist's rendition of the pavilion [expo2010.cn]

An artist's rendition of the pavilion [expo2010.cn]

(en.expo2010.cn)