Germany Pavilion: Showcasing prowess

• Source: Global Times
• [17:37 May 25 2010]
• Comments

One of the outstanding features of the Germany Pavilion is its silver shell. It is made of a special membrane that can reduce solar radiation. Photo: Li Zhenyu

By Li Zhenyu

The World Expo has entertained millions so far. Beyond entertainment, however, it also gives participating countries a great opportunity to showcase their particular expertise. The Germans followed this doctrine well, presenting their nation as a leader in innovation, technology and, most notably, a great place to visit.

The last Wednesday was the National Pavilion Day of Germany, and German President Horst Koehler showed up to mark the occasion at the Shanghai World Expo.

"The Expo is a chance for the world to present itself to the Chinese," said President Koehler on the National Pavilion Day.

What the solid Germany Pavilion presents is "Balancity", a city in balance, overflowing with ideas that can have a positive impact on urban development in the future.

Creative Director of the pavilion Peter Redlin put Balancity's message into words: "A city is an attractive place to live in if it has struck a balance between renewal and conservation, innovation and tradition, city and nature, community and individual, work and leisure."

Visitors can experience what this actually means on a tour through typical urban spaces. To get to the entrance, visitors first walk across a terraced landscape. They pass through a tunnel to reach a harbour. The path then leads them through a planning office, a garden and a park, to a factory, across the city square, until they arrive at the Energy Source, the city's power station and the end of the tour. In all of these spaces, innovative German processes, ideas and products are presented, all designed to help enhance life in the city.

The motto of this year's world exhibition is "Better City, Better Life". The 20-metre-high pavilion reflects the "Balancity" principle of equilibrium, which serves as the German basis for a better city and better life.

"The Shanghai World Expo is perhaps the largest world exhibition ever" said Dietmar Schmitz, Commissioner General of the Germany Pavilion. "And the Germany Pavilion is also the biggest our country has ever had at an Expo."

Designed by some of Germany's top architects, the high degree of complexity involved in the pavilion's construction is an impressive demonstration of state-of-the-art German innovation and technology.

Through the World Expo, the mighty Germany did showcase its prowess in innovation and technology.