The pavilion will stand on a 6000-square-meter plot and feature 12 white towers inspired by traditional Russian women’s costumes. Twenty-meter towers represent ancient Ural towns, but with a modern touch expressed in the irregular shapes of the towers that reflect the diversity of both ancient and modern cities.

A three-storey central building, which is 15 meters high, will link the towers. Four of the 12 towers will be open to the public where 20 Russian regions will display cultural and technological products. The other towers will be VIP rooms or be used for technical purposes.

Further, the pavilion will remain in place after the exhibition is over, says Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Viktor Khristenko.

“We'll do our best to produce the best impression possible,” Khristenko said. “Under the rules, all pavilions should be dismantled after the end of the exhibition. But some of them may remain there and our pavilion will remain in Shanghai as well, if a special commission makes that decision.”

The Russian pavilion is hoping that up to 8 million visitors will pass through its doors during the five months of the show, while the total number of visitors is expected to be 70 million.