France unveils national pavilion design

France today unveiled a national pavilion with a simple look, but huge budget, for World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Layout of France Pavilion

The model of the selected design has been on display in the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, along with other three prize-awarded works in the design competition of France Pavilion.

The final design "the Sensual City," selected from 49 candidates, presented a simple building with a big French-style garden inside. Surrounded by water, it appears to be floating, said Jose Freches, president of COFRES, the company in charge of France's participation.

Layout of France Pavilion

The French government has allocated a record 50 million euros (552 million yuan) budget for the national pavilion. "As far as I know, it is the highest among all participants," said Xu Bo, director of the International Participation Department of the Bureau of World Expo Coordination.

At least 80 percent of the total budget will be used in constructing the 6,000-square-meter pavilion, said Freches.

The France Pavilion, designed by Jacques Ferrier and his team, provides a unique opportunity to reinforce France's image in China. All the talents and financial forces will be gathered to make it real, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy in a statement when he decided to pick this design.