The combination of the membrane structure, which has a surface of 65,000 m2 in total with a span of 100 m, and the six steelglass funnels of 45 m height, formed of a freeform double-curved framework, constitutes the landmark of the Expo Shanghai 2010.

Via the about 1 km long and about 100m wide axis, which stretches across the entire site to the Huangpu River, the visitors are guided to the various national and theme-based pavilions.

The roof is carried by 19 interior and 31 exterior masts and by six funnel shaped framework shells consisting of steel and glass.

The design and development of the structure originate from SBA International and Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering Stuttgart / New York City.

[citation needed] In terms of structure and shape, the roof structure lives up to Stuttgart’s tradition of the internationally respected lightweight constructions, including the tent construction of the German Pavilion and the Buckminster Fuller-designed geodesic dome American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal.