norway pavilion at shanghai world expo 2010

'norway pavilion'
image © designboom


with the theme 'norway: powered by nature', the norwegian pavilion by architectural studio
helen & hard was constructed with 15 model trees made from norway's pine trees and
chinese bamboo. the pavilion aims to present norway's harmonious relationship with
nature and its reverence for the environment. each tree is dedicated to a different city
in china. after the expo, the trees can be easily dismantled and erected at other locations
serving as shaded park installation, playground or a social meeting place.



image © designboom

the model trees are covered by a semi-transparent roof which creates the effect of
blue skies when the sun shines through it. additionally, the roof is a four point sail
membrane construction with teflon coated ETFE, a superior paint for resisting corrosion
in harsh environments. during the night, dreamlike northern lights shows are staged on
the roof through projections. here visitors enjoy special concerts against the backdrop
of lights from the arctic circle.



image © designboom




image © designboom


in the coastline section, installations of large screens describe norwegians' applications
of solar, wind and wave energy. meanwhile the forest section allows visitors to watch
movies of the country's natural scenery and daily lives. the nation's fishing industry
is introduced in the fjord department. finally, in the area dedicated to the north pole,
visitors are educated on the importance of these wastelands to the global climate change.



entrance facade
image © designboom


to see our previous designboom coverage on the development of the norway pavilion,
see here.



interior