The Indonesian Pavilion — one of the 70 independent pavilions at this year’s Universal Exposition in Milan — stole the show at the world’s biggest international exhibition.

As a participant of the Expo Milano 2015, which runs from May 1 until Oct. 31, the Indonesian Pavilion was built on a 1,175-square-meter plot of land located at the end of the 1.5-kilometer Decumanus, the main thoroughfare at the 110-hectare expo site where participating countries have built their pavilions.

Visitors entering the Indonesian Pavilion compound are welcomed by a bronze statue of the Javan rhinoceros, a critically endangered species famous for its single horn.

The center of activities at the pavilion, meanwhile, is located at the fish-shaped, one-story building that covers an area of 650-square-meter and is surrounded by a green landscape and playground.

The design of the pavilion symbolizes the interaction of farming and fishing communities across the archipelago and is in line with the theme of this year’s expo: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, which stimulates participating countries to offer ideas and solutions to address universal problems on food security and sustainability by drawing upon its own culture and traditions.

Starting from the entrance of the pavilion’s main building, visitors can learn how Indonesia — the world’s largest archipelago — put its name on the world’s map as an important source of various kinds of food, including fish, rice and spices.

A dome-wall video at the front part of the building, for example, introduces visitors to the diversities of flora and fauna in the country, while the oculus exhibition in the other part of the building allows visitors to experience the beauty of Indonesian natural resources in 3D.

Many visitors, however, agree that it is the display of various kinds of local spices at the center of the pavilion that has captured their attention, at which they can observe, touch and smell every unique spice in its raw form.   

To complete their experience at the pavilion, visitors can also visit a restaurant and several food stalls attached to the compound to taste popular Indonesian food, including fried rice, chicken satay, and rendang (beef simmered in coconut milk and spices).

Indonesian Pavilion director Budiman Muhammad said the venue, as of Saturday, had attracted almost 800,000 visitors, since it was opened in May.

“Unlike other pavilions that rely heavily on technology, like LEDs and hologram presentations, we ask our visitors to use their five senses to create their unique personal experience when visiting our pavilion,” Budiman told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

“They, for example, can touch and smell many spices that grow in many parts of the archipelago, play the traditional angklung bamboo instrument and taste the variety of Indonesian food.”

With less than three months remaining before the closing of the expo, Budiman said he was keen to see the pavilion attract at least 2 million visitors.

The Indonesian Pavilion '€” one of the 70 independent pavilions at this year'€™s Universal Exposition in Milan '€” stole the show at the world'€™s biggest international exhibition.

As a participant of the Expo Milano 2015, which runs from May 1 until Oct. 31, the Indonesian Pavilion was built on a 1,175-square-meter plot of land located at the end of the 1.5-kilometer Decumanus, the main thoroughfare at the 110-hectare expo site where participating countries have built their pavilions.

Visitors entering the Indonesian Pavilion compound are welcomed by a bronze statue of the Javan rhinoceros, a critically endangered species famous for its single horn.

The center of activities at the pavilion, meanwhile, is located at the fish-shaped, one-story building that covers an area of 650-square-meter and is surrounded by a green landscape and playground.

The design of the pavilion symbolizes the interaction of farming and fishing communities across the archipelago and is in line with the theme of this year'€™s expo: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, which stimulates participating countries to offer ideas and solutions to address universal problems on food security and sustainability by drawing upon its own culture and traditions.

Starting from the entrance of the pavilion'€™s main building, visitors can learn how Indonesia '€” the world'€™s largest archipelago '€” put its name on the world'€™s map as an important source of various kinds of food, including fish, rice and spices.

A dome-wall video at the front part of the building, for example, introduces visitors to the diversities of flora and fauna in the country, while the oculus exhibition in the other part of the building allows visitors to experience the beauty of Indonesian natural resources in 3D.

Many visitors, however, agree that it is the display of various kinds of local spices at the center of the pavilion that has captured their attention, at which they can observe, touch and smell every unique spice in its raw form.   

To complete their experience at the pavilion, visitors can also visit a restaurant and several food stalls attached to the compound to taste popular Indonesian food, including fried rice, chicken satay, and rendang (beef simmered in coconut milk and spices).

Indonesian Pavilion director Budiman Muhammad said the venue, as of Saturday, had attracted almost 800,000 visitors, since it was opened in May.

'€œUnlike other pavilions that rely heavily on technology, like LEDs and hologram presentations, we ask our visitors to use their five senses to create their unique personal experience when visiting our pavilion,'€ Budiman told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

'€œThey, for example, can touch and smell many spices that grow in many parts of the archipelago, play the traditional angklung bamboo instrument and taste the variety of Indonesian food.'€

With less than three months remaining before the closing of the expo, Budiman said he was keen to see the pavilion attract at least 2 million visitors.