D line Intercity Rail Station at Expo 2000

HANNOVER EXPO'00 VISION

This kinder, gentler exposition will feature technology as life’s enhancer, rather than its driver. Technology is clearly a key factor in facilitating construction, updating facilities, transportation, virtual reality displays, multi-media communication and other infrastructure improvements, but it is a backdrop to the environmental focus.

While many structures will be striking in architectural form, national pavilions will be noted, too, for their use of abundant, indigenous resources in construction. The German pavilion employs steel, wood and glass in an innovative structure, allowing views of the exhibition area unobstructed by support beams. Designed by German architect Josef Wund, the glass-walled pavilion will be distinguished as the world’s largest exhibition hall without pillars. Glass was chosen as the primary construction material to illustrate Germany’s vision of itself as an open culture-- this, a tie-in to Expo 2000’s humanitarian theme.

Japan’s 36,000-square foot pavilion, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, will be made mostly of recycled paper. In line with environmental focus, the structure will be completely recycled after the fair.

The Spanish pavilion will be a pyramid of cork, and following its post-Expo dismantling, components will be used in various other construction projects.

ZERI , (Zero Emissions Research Initiative), under the guidance of architect Simon Velez, will construct a mushroom-shaped pavilion of bamboo, recycled cement, copper, and a mixture of terracotta, cement and bamboo fiber panels. The organization is involved in the use of production residues and regenerative raw materials for home construction. According to ZERI, concrete-reinforced bamboo is comparable to steel in strength, and the composition has withstood earthquakes in Colombia’s coffee region. The mixture will be used to promote the cultivation of bamboo for residential construction and as an ecologically sensible way to staunch erosion caused by deforestation.

Finland calls its pavilion "Windnest, and a cluster of birch trees will lie in the center of a wood and glass structure designed by architects Antti-Matti Slikala and Sarlotta Narjus. The pavillion employs sustainability principles in its design. Daylight and natural air penetration reduces the need for electricity, and after Expo 2000, the facility will be used as a multi-service building.

Existing Exhibition Office-Hall at Expo 2000

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