Austrian Pavilion. Expo Milan 2015 by Terrain

Description of the project by Team Breathe.Austria

Sustainable energy and healthy food are the themes of this year’s Universal Exposition in Milan. And in this context, the Austrian contribution to the EXPO has a very special story to tell: “Instead of a blaze of technology, our pavilion presents a dense natural forest. The entire exhibition area in the interior is open and has been planted with trees, some of which are up to 12-metres high. This not only offers a very special experience of Nature, it also defines the EXPO skyline as a whole, because the crowns of our trees tower over most of the other buildings at the Universal Exposition”, says the Austrian Commissioner General Josef Pröll. Some of the 60 large trees in the Austrian pavilion are already 30 years old or more — and at the end of the EXPO, the tallest, a hornbeam, will be taken to a new home in Bolzano-Bozen. In total, the Austrian Federal Forests and nurseries supplied 12,000 trees and bushes, 1,200 shrubs and 120 square metres of moss.

Breathe.Austria: An Oasis with a Unique Burst of Freshness.

The motto of the Austrian contribution is breathe.austria and is certainly intended to be taken literally, as in the midst of the forest, visitors can fill their lungs with gloriously fresh air and enjoy an intense experience of Nature’s beauty. Air is thus experienced as the Number 1 source of sustenance, without which there can be no life on Earth. It is also present in the name of the food outlet: At the pavilion’s Air Bar culinary delights from the forest await visitors. The Austrian presentation thus utilises the strong identification potential offered by the high quality of Austria’s air and the country’s quality of life.

A Forest as a Natural Air-Conditioning System Creates a Refreshing Micro-Climate.

The forest doesn’t just stand for the experience and pleasure gained from Nature, but also for Nature’s intelligence. Supported by innovative technologies, the vegetation creates a unique micro-climate. The photosynthesis in each leaf also provides the model for the pavilion’s electricity supply, all of which is generated by solar power. The forest, which was planted in just a few months, acts as an air generator: The trees and plants together produce enough oxygen in an hour to sustain 1,800 visitors. At the same time, they bind a total of 92 kg of carbon dioxide.

Green Infrastructure Improves Thermal Comfort.

With no air-conditioning technology at all, the perceived temperature (UTC) in the climate-neutral pavilion will be some 5°C lower than in the surrounding area. This effect is achieved by intelligently leveraging the synergies of Nature and technology. The plants cool the atmosphere by providing shade and by means of evaporation on their leaves — together, the leaves have a foliar surface totalling 43,200 m2. This cooling effect is intensified by innovative technologies, such as exceptionally quiet yet powerful fans, supplied by Ziehl-Abegg from Linz and sophisticated mist-effects created by raintime from Lower Austria. In the case of the latter, water is vaporised in refreshing micro-drops. High-pressure spray systems use 90 % less water than conventional systems. As several sensor-controlled circuits were installed both for the mistscaping systems and to irrigate the vegetation, the forest receives food and water exactly when and where it is needed. The fencing around the pavilion also contributes to the climate concept. The vegetation is fenced in by 180 metres of cross-laminated timber, which keeps the cool air in the forest. This surround is extremely stable and can be put up and dismantled again very quickly.

The First Art Installation in the World with a Sun Disc.

The climate-neutral pavilion also uses bio-performance to generate power. For the first time in history, a new dye solar cell, also known as a Grätzel cell, is being used as an art installation: The Sun Disc supplied by the Styrian company SFL uses the environmentally-friendly power of the sun to generate electricity and with its coloured surfaces also provides shade during the day. “What each leaf does in the pavilion forest, is continued here on a bigger scale, as power is generated from light using the principle of photosynthesis”, Josef Pröll explains. The electricity produced during the day is stored right next door to the pavilion in the ELI electric vehicle; this mobile “energy tank” was also developed by SFL.

Second Nature: A Signal for Urban Planning.

Architecture, Nature and sustainable technologies have been brought together at the Austrian pavilion in an integrated concept that showcases solutions for the key global challenges of our age. As the Commissioner General Josef Pröll explains: “Nowadays, buildings are the biggest consumers of energy and sources of CO2 emissions worldwide. Our pavilion is a prototype that offers visions for climate-friendly buildings for tomorrow that utilise Nature’s own capabilities. Austria as a country is well-known for the high quality of its air and its expertise in the field of green technology and this exhibition area will provide an important impetus for tomorrow’s climate-conscious lifestyle where humanity uses natural resources responsibly.”

Convincing Solutions for the Building and Interior Work.

Creative and innovative contributions were provided by companies including: BWT from Salzburg, an international front-runner in the field of innovative water technology, which will process the water for the drinking fountains. The lighting concept was developed by Bartenbach from Tyrol, a global leader in innovative light planning. The light fittings themselves were sourced from Zumtobel in Vorarlberg and only energy-saving LED lights were used. Rehau from Lower Austria provided polymer terrace coverings that combine the natural appearance of real wood with the advantages of high-quality plastics.  Gaulhofer from Styria, Europe’s leading manufacturer of windows and doors, is also providing its products for the EXPO pavilion. Austrian furniture manufacturers will also be displaying their strengths: Bene from Lower Austria will supply the office furniture; Braun from Burgenland will furnish the VIP lounge, while Viteo from Styria is providing the lounge furniture for the outdoor terrace.