Scene of the signing ceremony

A bamboo building of Spain

The "air tree"

Spain's capital city Madrid has given a glimpse of its highly ecological exhibition for the Urban Best Practices Area at World Expo 2010 Shanghai -- a bamboo building and an eco-boulevard, the two most outstanding architectural designs in the city.

Madrid yesterday signed a participation deal with Expo organizers. It's display, entitled "New Horizons for Public Housing," stood out among 106 proposals from 87 cities worldwide.

The idea of the 18-meter building of bamboo, which will help control temperatures and reduce noise, originated from a residential block in southern Madrid. It will be rebuilt in the Expo site to demonstrate its energy efficiency.

The architecture has already received an award from the respected Royal Institute of British Architects.

The building represents an advanced habitation model, incorporating the concept of environment via the use of renewable energies and materials, Spanish officials said.

Energy-saving glass, which can help absorb light, will be installed in part of the building to adjust to the climate of Shanghai and minimize the effect of greenhouse emissions.

Visitors will be able to explore how water, wind power and solar energy are transformed into electricity with zero pollution inside the building, which will be fully self-efficient in terms of energy generation.

They will also be able to experience the magic of an energy recycling system which collects hydrogen substances in water and solar power for renewable energy. The system is currently being used in Madrid to achieve zero gas emissions from the local power supply.

In addition, changes to residential structures in Madrid as well as urban facelift projects around the city will also be on display.

The building is expected to become a highlight of the 2010 event, Expo officials said.

Alejandro Zaera Polo, designer of the Spain Pavilion at the Aichi Expo in 2005 and now a member of the London-based Foreign Office Architects, will take charge of the master plan of the bamboo building.

The eco-boulevard, involving three "air trees" built from recycled materials, will serve as a public plaza alongside the bamboo structure.

Bioclimatic technologies will be adopted in the area to provide a cozy and pleasant environment.

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