Swiss pavilion marks construction milestone

29 March 2021
The pavilion has completed structural works and applied for a building completion certificate

The Switzerland pavilion at Expo 2020 announced on 29 March 2021 that it has completed structural works and is "one step closer" to its official opening in October 2021.

Construction will be halted now, and final touches, including the interior design and landscaping, will be completed over the summer from mid-July to August. This is to ensure that the pavilion remains protected from the summer heat and humidity.

Based on the theme 'Reflections', the pavilion evolves around reflecting key aspects of Switzerland’s culture, nature and innovations, with a deep-dive on topics including waste to value, and water resources. 

"We need megaevents to address mega challenges," said Massimo Baggi, ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE and Bahrain, at a press conference on 29 March. "Expos are an excellent platform to address pressing issues, and Switzerland is more than happy to contribute to solving these challenges."

Baggi adds that the Swiss presence at Expo 2020 will also focus on strengthening the existing trade and diplomatic relationship with the UAE, both from a political and economic point of view. The UAE is Switzerland's most important trading partner in the region.

Located in the Opportunity district, the pavilion was designed by Swiss team OOS (Architect), Bellprat Partner (scenography) and Lorenz Eugster Landscaping, and built by general contractor Expomobilia. Presence Switzerland, a unit of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, is in charge of the pavilion and participation at Expo 2020. 

A calming journey

Visitors will experience Switzerland's content-driven story through a journey that begins outside the pavilion on a red carpet that leads them to the giant reflective facade.

Next, visitors will step into a sea of fog with surrounding walls covered in mirrors and digital projections showcasing Swiss nature. An upwards ramp will take them into an urban environment, created by pavilion partner Schindler, focusing on the future of vertical transport and mobility.

The visitor is then taken to the lower floor of the pavilion, witnessing the fountains of innovation to learn more about various Expo subthemes. Partners including Schindler, Rolex, Switzerland Tourism and Nestle will take part in discussions and events held within the pavilion.

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.