Penda and Smartvoll have teamed up to create a giant water wheel for the Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The project, titled ‘The Source of Everything’, was shortlisted in the international competition for the Austrian Pavilion and is the first collaboration between Penda and Smartvoll. The project aims to create an oversized machine that drives water through the pavilion, giving visitors a new experience in Dubai’s desert environment. It’s also a characteristic that Austria is known for: revitalization.
“In my view, a World Expo pavilion should not just be a box where companies show off their products. The best thing is that it can surprise visitors, make information gathering fun, and explore bold innovations. Let visitors experience a country’s culture and values firsthand, leaving a lasting impression.” – Philip Buxbaum, one of Smartvoll’s partners
As Penda and Smartvoll have specifically mentioned, water is an important element that outlines Austria and has generated most of the country’s energy. “When large companies buy wells, rivers, lakes and oceans suffer from pollution at an all-time high, the pavilion should be like a statement, emphasizing the importance of water as a public asset, water is the source of life and a major designer of the environment.” Austria’s abundant water resources are conveyed as a key element of the pavilion’s identity, allowing visitors to dance in the rain, experience water in its many stages, and provide a place for spiritual restoration, revitalizing the body and mind.
Dubai and water “Usually, buildings are designed to protect against bad weather. But when we started designing, we didn’t want to create an indoor space that could only be accessed because it was air-conditioned, which is not in line with the Expo’s sustainability concept. We also don’t want to close the venue because it might rain once a month, so we emphasized this theme, not only accepting that our pavilion has rain, but even generating it. Our building allows water to permeate, drip, rain, and evaporate water vapor. In this sense, the Austrian Pavilion is a large sprinkler that allows visitors to feel refreshed.” The Austrian Pavilion is open on both sides, allowing wind to blow through the wooden structure. At the top of the pavilion, the overhang protects it from direct sunlight. Between the structures, the water wheel slowly brings collected and cleaned Austrian rainwater to the top, then drops it drop by drop, making the entire building rain, interacting with visitors and playing, then being recycled.
Visitors at the sloping entrance will receive an Austrian flag-colored umbrella to protect them from the sun when outside the pavilion, then visitors will queue in the shade of the pavilion and experience the turning water wheel from the outside. Between the gaps in the structure, visitors can see other people interacting with the pavilion and the water. Once inside, visitors can decide on their coolness level, use an umbrella, or experience Austrian rainwater, with different zones made up of water vapor, small droplets, light rain and heavy rain forming the path through the pavilion. The large windmill behind the building provides a constant wind speed to ensure a fresh indoor environment. After interacting with water, visitors are guided to the lower level, where we respond to one of the themes of this Expo – ‘Connecting Minds’. Everyone sits at a large table where they can dry their clothes, have a drink of water, and chat with other visitors. The openness of the exhibition hall structure is itself an invitation to visitors, making it a symbol of Austrian hospitality and culture. People from all over the world will come to the pavilion, revitalize, eat, drink, and play, and communicate ideas. The water wheel cycle, bringing water to the top and then pouring it down, repeating the cycle, is a perfect reflection of the water cycle in nature. The cycle of life creation is the source of everything. ‘The Source of Everything’ comes from the collaboration of Penda and Smartvoll, and was shortlisted in the international competition for the Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2020.
Project Information:
Architects: Penda, Smartvoll
Location: Dubai, UAE
Year: 2020
