From 1 May to 31 October 2010, China´s mega-city of Shanghai is hosting the Expo 2010, where the theme is "Better City, Better Life". The German Pavilion "balancity" is Germany´s interpretation of the EXPO-theme, dedicated to ideas for a life in balance in the city of tomorrow. With its 4 large exhibition structures the pavilion architecture symbolises the interplay between carrying and being carried, between leaning on and supporting. Only in interaction with the other structures can a stable balance be found.
On their way through the "City in Balance", visitors experience ideas and solutions "Made in Germany" for urban challenges. In its thematic diversity, balancity unfolds itself throughout the exhibition as a sequence of diverging, designed thematic experiential spaces. Many of the exhibits are interactive using state-of-the art interfaces. People are activated and experience for themselves how important it is to maintain a balance - between modernisation and preservation, innovation and tradition, community and the individual, work and leisure and between globalisation and national identity. The interactive show in the Energy Source, an awesome dome like theatre, is the highlight of the tour. In line with the motto "together we can really make a difference", 600 visitors together can influence and bring to life the sphere (3m diameter, 1.2 tons, 400.000 LEDs) and the entire room by calling. The pavilion and its exhibits are an invitation to open dialogue.
A team consisting of communication specialists Milla & Partner, the Munich-based Schmidhuber + Kaindl architectural and planning office and pavilion builder Nüssli (Deutschland) GmbH were responsible for the planning and construction of the German pavilion. The overall responsibilty for the pavilion lies with the German Ministry of Economics and Technology, organisation and operation with Koelnmesse International GmbH. Photos: Andreas Keller