EXHIBITOR MAGAZINE'S WORLD EXPO AWARDS: BEST SMALL PAVILION

SWISS PAVILION

DESIGN: Manuel Herz Architekten, Bellprat Partner

FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group

Symbolism, art, technology, and, yes, Heidi animated Switzerland's storied past and its anticipated future at World Expo's Switzerland pavilion. At just 1,200 square meters, its relative size was no metaphor for the vast imagination applied to the interactive design and sustainable construction. The modular space traced Switzerland's journey from its Alpine heritage to its emergence as a global leader in technology via four interconnected spheres made of recyclable ETFE film. With the entire shell weighing in at just 450 kilograms, the ultra-light, air-supported material helped earn the distinction of lightest Swiss Pavilion ever built for a World Expo.

By Linda Armstrong, Sean Carlson, Danelle Dodds, Emily Olson, Nancy Olson, and Charles Pappas