AUSTRIAN PAVILION INVITES VISITORS TO TAKE A BREATH

Austria examines air as a source of nourishment for The Milan Expo 2015

Rather than using technology to impress visitors at the Milan Expo 2015, the Austrian national pavilion is investing in the power of nature. Spearheaded by architect Klaus K. Loenhart, the pavilion contains a dense natural forest complete with 12-meter trees that stand taller than most of the other pavilions. The forest creates a refreshing, oxygen-rich micro-climate that invites visitors to stop and take a breath.

Indeed, air as nourishment is the central focus of the pavilion: without air, there is no life. The concept is in line with the Milan Expo’s core theme of “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. To populate the pavilion, the Austrian Federal Forests and various nurseries provided approximately 12,000 trees and bushes, 1,200 shrubs and 120 square metres of moss – a plethora of plant life that creates enough oxygen per hour to sustain 1,800 visitors, while simultaneously binding a total of 92 kg of carbon dioxide.

The pavilion also showcases the natural cooling potential of forests. When combined with the technology of a fan misting system that uses 90% less water, the perceived temperature within the pavilion is a full 5°C lower than the surrounding areas. This is mostly due to the 43,200 square meters of leaf surface area which provides shade and evaporative cooling. The cross-laminated timber fence around the vegetation also helps to concentrate the cool air.

Visitors explore the pavilion along a raised pathway that winds through the misty forest. Lit typography spells out the word BREATHE along the way. The path leads to a snack bar which offers traditional Austrian fare and snacks made with ingredients garnered from different forests.

As a final added bonus, the pavilion is entirely powered by solar panels and lit with LED lights.