Austria has broken ground on its country pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
Beatrix Karl, commissioner-general and Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, executive director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau and other officials attended the ground-breaking ceremony.
As part of the Opportunity District, the Austria pavilion will introduce an unusual concept- 38 interlocking cones blending on a 2,400 sqm. pavilion to form a harmonious structure, officials said.
The cones are between 6m and 15m high, cut off at the top and plastered with clay. Using the world’s oldest building material and an intelligent ventilation concept with wind towers, the Austrian pavilion will naturally provide a comfortable atmosphere, officials stated.
Senior officials also said that as part of Austria’s participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai, extensive activities are being planned to further deepen the bilateral relations between Austria and UAE, as well as the whole region.
Karl said: “The highlight of our Expo 2020 participation will be Austria Day on November 12. On this day, Austria will present itself to the international Expo audience with actively cultivated customs as well as interdisciplinary art and cultural accents.”
In its pavilion, Austria will display resourceful initiatives and inspiring solutions from the country in a dedicated exhibition area at the Opportunity District, she stated.
“The two countries share almost the same size in terms of population and area, and the UAE is Austria’s most important economic partner in the Near and Middle East,” she added.
Meanwhile, Al Ali said: “We look forward to seeing Austria’s innovative and exciting construction efforts come to life as we continue our journey together towards a once-in-a-lifetime celebration in less than a year’s time at Expo 2020.”