New York-based Thinc Design revealed their exhibition design for the USA Pavilion in the upcoming Milan Expo 2015 this May. Collaborating with Friends of the USA Pavilion, Thinc Design's exhibition highlights America's role in the future of the global food system, as a response to the Expo's overall theme, "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life."

The food-related topic challenges the Expo's 140 participating countries to showcase their technological solutions on how to provide healthy, safe, and sufficient food for all, but through sustainable methods that won't disrupt the Earth's equilibrium.

Above: Biber Architects' architectural design for the USA Pavilion. © Biber Architects

Thinc Design's exhibition will be located inside a 26,000 sq.ft space of the USA Pavilion, designed by Biber Architects. Through a series of immersive presentations and with multilingual college-aged student "ambassadors" as guides, the exhibition will include interactive features and digital media that aim to present a multi-faceted American perspective on global food security, farming, nutrition, sustainability, international relations, and contemporary American food culture.

Below are further exhibition details from Thinc Design:

↑ Boardwalk Level Exhibits: Interactive Game and Exhibit Stations with Living Plant Chandeliers. Copyright © 2015 Thinc Design. All rights reserved.

"Inside, the pavilion reveals itself as a building filled with light and populated by a forest of exhibit stations that swirl upwards, topped with growing plants.  Visitors enter the main floor of the pavilion through a soundscape of American voices.  At the top of the stairs, they see that the stations are crowned with 'chandeliers' ­ growing plants that echo the exterior vertical farm.  These fantastic, growing 'fixtures' enable visitors to smell and touch these plants, which are maintained through high-efficiency grow lights and innovative irrigation systems.

This exhibit floor introduces visitors to the people of America, engaged in the world and working at the vanguard of our food industries ­ the farmers, the chefs, the scientists and many more.  People can gather around videos and tabletop displays at each station [to listen to a variety of perspectives]."

↑ The Great American Foodscape. Copyright © 2015 Thinc Design. All rights reserved.

"Visitors depart from this level of the pavilion before entering the 'Great American Foodscape.' This experience immerses people in a 'delicious'  and often humorous version of a journey through America's history, tradition and culture, through contemporary American food.  Visitors will encounter a variety of the best of our growing, cooking and eating.

Another subject will be the 'Farm-to-Table' movement, exploring how the highways and transportation innovations of post-World War II America helped transform the economy of food to supermarkets throughout the country.  While most have little idea of where their food came from, many are now aware ­ the pendulum has swung back to support local agriculture and to locally available, fresh, quality products. Barbeque, artisanal products, and much more will be included in the Foodscape's wide range of subjects.

As people emerge from the Foodscape, they are directed toward Food Truck Nation with American chefs offering some of the country's most innovative and tasty street food.  Visitors inside the pavilion can also visit the rooftop level, where they can find a media installation on our wine making and distilleries, as a complement to the rooftop bar."