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which represents the actions of social groups, associations and NGOs. From this starting point, the architectural design is of a building which responds to the problems of sustainable architecture in the twenty-first century, both in respect of its construction and use, and by reducing its ecological footprint to the minimum, as a response to its ephemeral nature. The design seeks to take another look at traditional construction using materials from the land: wood, straw, clay. It is inspired, both in form and function, in the behaviour of clay containers, representing traditional pitchers. The building is organised as a single, open, fluid space. From the circular floor of the proposed site rise two juxtaposed domes, with open circular windows allowing the light to flood in from above. Beneath this huge “umbrella”, the program is organised by way of a semi circular stand and two frames, connected alternately. This creates three levels around the central room of the “forum”, an amphitheatre representing the main core of participation and communication. Standing out on the lower level are, on the one hand, a space with high ceilings, intended for the presentation of experiences of actions and best practices, designed as more of an entertainment and experience event than a mere exhibition, and on the other, a more enclosed space, located behind the stands, which houses the café and fair trade shop, as well as technical and service areas. From the experience zone you reach the intermediate platform, which surrounds the top of the stands, at an elevation level of +3.60, and the upper floor at +7.00. These two areas complete the pavilion’s exhibition space, providing a continuous circuit for visiting the site. The relationship of the building with the exterior is intended to be equally fluid, despite the necessary control of the flow of visitors. This relationship is articulated through the presence of the river, and there may even be a direct link. The pavilion will have three entrances: one in the lower dome, to the north, facing the rest of the site, which serves as a main exit; the other two facing the river, one to the east, serving as a direct entrance and exit point for the “forum”, and another to the west, the main access point for the exhibition area. This main access is connected to a queuing area by means of a latticed archway covered with plants between the pavilion and the ecogeographical site on the edge of the natural riverine thicket. The openings for the entrances serve as lookouts in the upper levels, so that, without detriment to the intimacy and comfort of the building, visitors can look outside in three directions. The construction of this amazing building has been designed with a view to reviewing traditional systems. The enclosure is made using thick straw walls covered in mud, thus achieving insulation more than two hundred times better than brick. Straw, a harvest by-product which is usually burnt, is used here packed into prismatic bales and pressed, laid around a structural frame making up the base of walls. Finally the inside and outside is covered with a mud screen, which holds it together and, properly treated, makes it waterproof while allowing the wall to breathe. In the use of energy, efficient installations and renewable energy were used to complement the passive efficiency of the building. Air conditioning systems were designed to use groundwater combined with efficient circulation of air within this great container, and for electricity, solar or wind power. A new look at the use of traditional materials such as straw, which are currently considered as waste products, forms an element of this project. However, rather than the aim being merely to erect a unique building, it is intended to be a reflection on sustainable construction, which should go beyond the immediate profitability of conventional construction systems. Africa Pavilion: landscapes, depicting grasslands and savannahs By Uwe Bruückner, María Millán, María Marta Muais, Adriana Castro, Nüssli Martin Joos
The interaction of the elements in the ecological cycle: water, wind, sun and their constant movement changes nature, and their harmonious synchronisation is absolutely essential for life on Earth. The façade of the pavilion tries to honour nature and the elements that form and transform it with a layered design, which, when brought together, convey a single message. A layer of sheets suspended in micromesh shimmer in the sun and blow freely in the wind, creating undulating forms which imitate a surface of the water and reminding us of how these elements interact and of their importance in nature. Another layer containing an abstract illustration of Sub-Saharan landscapes, depicting grasslands and savannahs with their broad horizon, celebrates the union of land and sky (an African myth for the origin of man). This is complemented by the names of the countries, creating a panoramic view that responds to a huge urban sprawl that can be seen very clearly from a distance. When approached, it is possible to read the statistics of the exhibiting countries that are engraved on individual plaques on the front of the pavilion. The third layer is formed by Light, which, when activated, transforms the whole façade into a living transmitting organ, an external communication link which conveys information on the content housed inside the pavilion. The light manifests itself by forming figures that recite poems on culture and nature, in which a cloud turns into a man, the man becomes a lion, etc, where water floods the land, flows in mighty rivers and floods, soaks the earth and causes vegetation to emerge. The narrative is composed of short modules, which describe an imaginative journey, creating a type of abstract message.
Africa Pavilion By Uwe Bruükner, María Millán, María Menta Murais, Adriana Castro, Nüssli, Martin Joos Image of Sub-Saharan African countries Southern Africa is bordered on the East by the Indian Ocean and on the West by the Atlantic. This geographic region is characterised by tablelands that are for the most part of roughly the same altitude. The area, which is generally lacking in water resources, is marked by the presence of vast lakes in the interior such as Lake Victoria, for example. These ecogeographical conditions define a spatial image whose characteristic feature is a broad horizon. The layout of the design is based on the features defined by ecogeographical parameters: biomes of the countries, tropical rainforests, savannah, grasslands and deserts. These are represented in a display that imitates the associated topographical features. Creative concept. An orthogonal layout suspended from the vertical and horizontal surfaces ensures a flexible division of the space available, giving rise to the exhibition spaces and volumes allotted to the different countries. The modular system structures the image of landscape architecture throughout the entire space. The pavilion is organised into three spaces: water, landscape and culture. (image 005) Water, in the form of waterways, breaks up the tectonic mass, giving shape to the territorial coastline. The influence of the excess or lack of water gives shape to territorial landscapes within an integrated system. These surfaces lead into the individual theme spaces that illustrate the culture of the different countries. Creative concept. waterways The waterways transport the visitor through an entry tunnel, which,