german pavilion creates field of ideas for expo milan 2015

german pavilion creates field of ideas for expo milan 2015
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

for the german pavilion at expo milan 2015, an open and public structure titled ‘fields of ideas’ has been designed by a team of creative studios, including architecture by schmidhuber. in keeping with the overall theme of ‘feeding the planet – energy for life,’ the project seeks to reflect the country’s commitment to environmental consciousness and nutritional awareness. a gently sloping ramp accesses a deck which wraps the building. this serves as a constructed translation of the german countryside landscape, and provides a place to relax. the surfaces are composed of various tones of wood tiled in a pattern reminiscent of farmlands.

a video describing (in german) the concept and proposal for the pavilion
video courtesy of lemon8 brand media gmbh

at the southwest corner adjacent to the pavilion structure, the ‘german piazza’ provides a gathering place as well as an area for performances and events. stepped seating integrates with the ramping form, while a restaurant, able to accommodate 350 guests, is located on the ground level of the building.

the ‘german piazza’ provides a place for seating, gathering, and events
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

a wide ramp accesses the open upper deck and exhibition spaces
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

a system of white curving structures of stretched textiles creates a canopy above the elevated deck. they serve to shade the pavilion as well as connect exterior and interior spaces. permeable façades allow for passive ventilation which reduces energy usage while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.

the wood deck creates a diverse landscape for relaxation
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

curving shade structures create a canopy above the upper deck
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

elevation: the deck slowly ramps to create a gentle circulation throughout the structure
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

the design for the pavilion’s exhibition, led by milla & partner, includes interactive presentations introducing ideas and insights from germany about ecologically conscious food and natural resource management. mobile devices, called ‘seed boards’, enable visitors to explore, discover, and collect content presented throughout the building. various paths representing land, water, climate, and biodiversity intermingle to create diverse spatial experiences. additionally, the facility offers three different ways of eating: an openly accessible area for tasting, a gourmet restaurant for fine dining, and a culinary venue reflective of the germans’ gemütlichkeit (a cozy and hospitable environment).

the pavilion is intended to inform visitors on ecologically conscious food management
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

diverse environments contain interactive displays
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

exhibits are manifested through a variety of moods and experiences
image © schmidhuber / milla & partner

project info:

overall responsibility: german federal ministry of economics and technology, bonn
management company: messe frankfurt gmbh
design, planning, realization: deutscher pavilion expo milano consortium
spatial concept, architecture, general planning: schmidhuber, münchen
content concept, exhibition, media: milla & partner, stuttgart
project management and construction: nüssli (deutschland) gmbh, roth