Austria – Feel the Harmony

The pavilion design has a dynamic and abstract external form, which is highlighted by the entertaining and artistic red and white porcelain outer skin and the multimedia-based VJ-performance. These colours do not only symbolize the Austrian national colours, but acknowledge red as the colour of luck in traditional Chinese culture.

When entering the Austrian Pavilion, visitors will be “beamed” via satellite from Shanghai to Austria. The Huang Pu Bridge turns into the Viennese “Reichsbrücke”, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower into the “Danube Tower” and the Shanghai Government Building becomes the “Vienna City Hall”. The “Ni hao” of the classic Chinese beauty turns into the “Servus!” and the “Griaß Di!” of a welcoming Austrian.

The Topology of Sound

The main driving force behind the design of the Austrian Pavilion can be described as acoustic forces, or more accurately as music. Music as a concept that reflects continuity in terms of architectural articulation that seamlessly connects the various spaces within the program. The space will "resonate" to the rhythm of the Video Jockeys (VJs) performance – the conductor of the atmospheres within the main space. The rich history of Austrian musical tradition makes it possible to create a performance program reaching from Baroque Music, to the classic area to the Modern age to contemporary acts. The space also hosts a shop, a restaurant, offices, and the VIP area.