The Swiss Pavilion is made up of a double-layer membrane and a supporting structure, which is designed with sustainability in mind. The design of the museum uses light and color as the protagonists, creating a narrative space where stories can be told without words, and each sphere has a different theme.
The design of the sphere is extremely lightweight, with each ETFE shell weighing less than 400 kg, which is only 1% of the weight of a conventional building shell. It can be delivered with 2 to 3 cargo bikes, significantly reducing carbon emissions during transportation and construction. The pavilion is modular and uses recycled and recyclable materials, which will be used as furniture after the Expo to recycle resources.
The exhibition hall is also maintained on the ground floor, avoiding vertical circulation and eliminating the need for elevators and escalators, which is convenient for barrier-free access and reduces energy consumption. At the top of the pavilion, there is a rooftop bar with a view of Osaka Bay.
In the "Swiss Innovation Sphere", guests can learn about the necessary conditions for Swiss innovation, participate in the creation of the future society and bring away the seeds of innovative ideas. The pavilion is surrounded by locally cultivated plants that beautify the environment and absorb carbon dioxide, and the plants can surround and cover the entire building over time, creating a space that coexists in harmony with nature.
"We are cultivating plants in local nurseries, and each kilogram of plant weight is equivalent to removing one kilogram of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere." The Manuel Herz team explains.
The Swiss Pavilion showcased advanced building technology and innovative thinking, conveyed intercultural understanding and environmental protection in a variety of ways, presented a microcosm of the future society, and invited the audience to think together: how can we find a balance between technological innovation and harmony with nature, and co-design our future life?