Swiss National Exhibition EXPO2027

twenty-six red spots, competition entry. 2014

PROCEDURE
Open two-stage concept competition, 2014
Awarded by: Governments of the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St.Gallen and Thurgau

DESIGNER
Architect: Fawad Kazi Architekt GmbH, Zurich
Landscape architect: vetschpartner Landschaftsarchitekten AG, Zurich

TEAM
Fawad Kazi Architekt GmbH:
Fawad Kazi, Josephine Kutschbach

TASK STATEMENT
Eastern Switzerland wants to host the next Swiss National Exhibition. The major festive event is set to take place in 2027 - in a diverse, vibrant region characterized by pre-alpine landscapes such as Lake Constance, the Rhine and Säntis, but also by a complex and essentially decentralized settlement structure. This region will then be the center of Switzerland for several months, inviting and full of surprises; it must prepare for this and make the necessary arrangements.

The planned Expo2027 joins the long tradition of six Swiss National Exhibitions to date. This tradition determines the public perception of each subsequent edition of a national exhibition. At the same time, however, there is a desire to interpret history in an independent way, to measure Switzerland in the present and to continue writing for the future. Eastern Switzerland wants to organize a national exhibition that does justice to the Switzerland of the 21st century. (Competition program concept competition Expo2027 (excerpt), 2014)

PHOTOS
Fawad Kazi Architekt GmbH

DESCRIPTION

twenty-six red spots

To show the diversity of the Expo2027 region, 26 locations are identified on the national map, the so-called host locations. These are located in or near the crosshairs of the coordinate grid and are regularly distributed across the entire Expo region.
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We pack our bags and travel to Expo2027 because we want to finally get to know Eastern Switzerland.
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Each host location is assigned a guest canton. For example, Wil meets the canton of Ticino, Romanshorn meets the canton of Vaud or Urnäsch meets the canton of Solothurn.
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On the map, we randomly select three of the 26 locations that we will visit in one day. It's obviously supposed to be a kind of experiment.
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Pavilions are to be set up and used at the host locations. Together with the host canton, the different, specific qualities of the individual locations are to be highlighted and thematized.
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On closer inspection, we discover something extremely surprising during the hike from Romanshorn to Amriswil. Really amazing, this Thurgau.
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There are no real highlights. All the selected places should be treated equally. The combination of the pavilion and its programming by the host location and host canton results in 26 individual exhibition locations.
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We were hooked. In order to experience all of these 26 "red spots", we decided without further ado to stay at the Expo for a week.
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In addition to the actual locations, the routes between them are of central importance. The shortest distance from location to location is 10 km. This means that the individual locations can also be visited on foot or by bike.
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We are amazed at how similar Ticino and Wil are. The problems are therefore the same.
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The decentralized location of the individual exhibition venues means that the existing infrastructure can cope with the expected logistical requirements. In some cases, new or additional infrastructure will be built.
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We are looking for a room in Urnäsch, as we will be staying here for two extra days. After all, fresh milk tastes delicious.
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The pavilions can continue to be used after Expo2027. The newly built infrastructure is also of lasting value for the region.
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We have packed a wide range of impressions of a newly discovered region in our suitcases. We are happy to take them home with us.
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Expo2027 is the accumulation of all 26 locations and their paths in between.
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See you next time...

Tagged architecture