Czech pavilion for EXPO 2015 will be made of "containers"

If someone was convinced that container buildings have no future in the world of architecture and can only be used for emergencies, they will be more than surprised by the news that this construction technology will represent the Czech Republic at the global showcase of the best that individual countries can present today. Modular architecture is thus making a significant impact on the domestic scene.

Rationality is in

The overall concept of the World Expo, which will take place in Milan in 2015, has been entrusted to the world-renowned Swiss architect duo Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (among other things, the authors of the Bird's Nest Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing). Their aim is to limit short-term fashion fads and create a clear, compact whole.

The chairman of our jury, David Vávra, expressed disappointment during the selection that he did not find any project among the competing ones that could be considered significant architecture, but the authors of the winning design, architects Chybík Krištof Associated Architects, explain this restraint by stating that they aimed to meet the requests of the overall concept by focusing more on the idea and sustainability rather than on the short-term surprise effect. "With the intimate and compact form of the pavilion, we are trying to avoid shape and trend awkwardness that may fall into oblivion." the winners explain their perspective.

Czech Republic - Land of Pools

In the overall design by Herzog & de Meuron, a prominent role is played by a water canal that will encircle the entire exhibition area. This will create a small Holland in Italy. This is related to one of the main themes of the Czech pavilion - the pool. It will be located in the courtyard, and visitors will be able to swim there during the summer heat. Based on a competition among Czech designers, a modern swimsuit design will even be selected to represent contemporary Czech fashion design, and according to Chybík Krištof's plans, these swimsuits will echo on the beaches of the world even after the World Expo.

The structure of the pool also has a planned function - after the exhibition, it could be transported to Prague and placed on the embankment, thereby enhancing the range of activities currently taking place in the revitalization of public spaces in our capital city.

The Future of Buildings is Their Recycling

A frequent question accompanying the pavilions of world exhibitions is the fate of their further use after the event ends. Buildings that can be dismantled and moved to another location usually have an advantage because there is a greater chance that someone will buy them. Such was the fate of our pavilion for the EXPO in Brussels in 1958, which was placed in Prague's Letná after the exhibition, where it served as a café, and after various ups and downs, it is now at least an office building.

The now omnipresent condition of sustainability certainly played a role in both the design process and the jury's evaluation. The fact that the authors think about the fate of the building from the very beginning and offer the use of modular technology, which could be used in the future, for example, to create a kindergarten, is a significant advantage at present.

Modern Charge and Attractiveness of Modules

One could say that the constellation of conditions this year was more than favorable for the use of prefabricated modular systems. On one hand, there is the aforementioned potential for recycling, along with the associated characteristics of ecology and sustainability. The second advantage is the fact that it is a provocative element in contemporary construction, similar to exposed concrete, which is slowly becoming a beloved and sought-after feature of modernity and contemporary beauty here as well. Just like with concrete, the quality of the construction is crucial. There are already examples of beautiful buildings made from containers all over the world, and it's only a matter of time before they also become fashionable. While we are not the first to use containers at a world exhibition, it has previously been more of a defiance and a reference to the constructivist essence of architecture. The goal of the Chybík Krištof studio is to use modules to create an environment with high aesthetic value. Their words confirm this: "The pavilion is both a home and an experience. We design sovereign architecture with a contemporary expression, referring to the simplicity of the national style - modernism."

We can only wish that everything turns out as expected, according to the plans of the architects and execution companies, and hope that those legendary "golden Czech hands" will once again make their mark in the global competition.

Ing.arch.Jaroslav Sládeček ARTECHO