Switzerland’s innovative strength is the central theme of the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Under the name “From Heidi to High Tech,” the country will present itself in five so-called “spheres”.
The architecture by Manuel Herz Architects itself focuses on sustainability and consists of modular constructions made from reusable, recyclable materials. The result is an extraordinary lightweight building with the smallest ecological footprint of any Swiss pavilion at a World Expo to date.
The pavilion consists of five spheres, in a park like setting and a four-story building at the rear This building also houses a café, from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Expo grounds. The building is designed as a steel structure.
The substructure of the spheres, which are supported by a reinforced concrete slab, consists of curved steel tubes. At the intersections and along the edges, additional curved steel tubes form the edges of the frame. The exhibition rooms are clad with membrane cushions made of PVC-coated PES membrane on the inside and ETFE on the outside.
The foil and ultimately the entire pavilion are equally recyclable and will be reprocessed into furniture and other items after the end of the Expo.
