Sustainability
Germany is committed to the ambitious implementation of Agenda 2030’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and to the promotion of sustainable development.
The country’s sustainability strategy is modified regularly and sets the course for its sustainable development.
Principles guiding this national strategy are based on cross-generational equity, quality of life, social cohesion and international responsibility.
Example: By 2030, the proportion of renewable energies will rise to 80 percent in energy consumption. And Germany has set off in the right direction: Meanwhile, 47% of the electricity consumption is derived from renewable energies (source:
German Federal Government). This reduces the emission of greenhouse gases to a significant extent.
MATERIALS
The materials selected to build the pavilion incorporate these aspects of environmentally friendly and circular construction.
As a walk-through exhibit space, the pavilion in itself aims to embody material solutions for future-proof, sustainable and circular construction.
The supporting structure is made from construction-grade bamboo – a fast-growing raw material that stores CO2.
The beams are dimensioned such that they can be returned easily into the material cycle after the Expo has closed its doors.
Comparable to that of a half-timbered house, the building cylinder’s infill consists of prefabricated panels.
True to the spirit of circular construction, the infill panels are manufactured from locally available secondary materials to the greatest extent possible.
At the same time, the infill materials serve as a prime example of the rediscovery of traditional German building practices.
The infill is made up of a variety of natural and secondary construction materials, showcasing the latest advancements in ecological building construction.
INDOOR CLIMATE DESIGN
Climate-control played a key role in the sustainable design of the German Pavilion.
One important conceptual prerequisite was to achieve a high ambient environment quality in the interior and outers spaces whilst keeping the use of resources and CO2 emissions to a bare minimum.
This feat was accomplished by consistently employing passive methods and relying on circular and modular concepts of building technology.
The buildings and outdoor spaces are designed to optimally adjust to the prevailing climatic conditions during the Expo season.
To make this a reality, psychrometric diagrams alongside temperature and moisture statistics were generated. Moreover, sun paths and wind patterns were analysed to permit the drafting of an indoor climate concept ideally adapted to the locality/local conditions.
LANDSCAPE
One unique aspect of the German Pavilion is its outdoor facilities, which offer visitors a tangible, experiential biosphere that combines high-quality surroundings with captivating visitor experiences.
Just as the planned use of greenery and the careful selection of plants will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in our future cities, the plants around the German Pavilion also produce an aesthetic as well as a performative landscape:
They serve as a CO2 sink, purify the air, produce food and store water.
The green plants area all on loan and will be transplanted to another habitat where they can live after the Expo is over.
All surface coverings and pavements are made from locally available materials and products.
Thanks to the unbound construction methods, the materials can be reused afterwards.
OUR RESOURCE WATER
In urban areas, evaporation plays a huge role in cooling our cities.
Areas with vegetation that enable cooling by evaporation are very limited in such communities.
The landscape of the German Pavilion incorporates permeable surfaces that are designed to absorb rainwater and promote slow evaporation.
The green roofs, percolation troughs, and ample greenery provide additional conditions that support this principle.
The green roofs also play a role in the water management strategy:
They retain a large portion of the rainwater falling on the grounds and thereby take a burden off the sewage system.
There are additional plans to install a rainwater tank under one section of the building. The collection system is comprised of recycled plastic modules.
The rainwater collected from the surrounding square, roof, and green spaces will enable us to irrigate the plants almost entirely without any additional water supply.
