Norway Pavilion

The explosive urbanization that China is experiencing calls for an increased sensibility and consideration for both natural and human resources.
“Norway powered by Nature” contributes to these issues with an architecture  that facilitates social sustainability, healthy public recreational areas and environmentally friendly urban structures and infrastructures. The pavilion consists of 15 assembled “trees” which create a sensory and multifunctional “forest” – a complex landscape which encourages physical and social activity while promoting sustainable principles. The physical structure is made from wood and bamboo, environmentally sound materials. Technology that will be used to provide water purification, air conditioning and solar energy becomes an integrated part of the exhibition. A sustainable future use is not just about re-using materials but about an understanding of long-term cycles. Out of this understanding the pavilion is composed as prefabricated building kit of 15 “trees” constructed in timber.
The “tree” structure allows each component to be autonomous or combinatory. After the Expo each of the trees in the exhibition can be easily dismantled and relocated. Several examples are a shaded park installation, playground or social meeting place. Local communities are invited to define an appropriate future use for the constituent parts beyond the Expo in 2010.
The whole and its parts
An intention of the design was to create a new whole through the synergetic linking of different disciplines, cultures and development processes. This new whole is expressed as an evocative and heterogeneous landscape, which combines Norwegian and Chinese culture, commerce, technology and art. There are various forms of interaction and experiences, as well as interpretations of Norwegian nature in relation to city development. Each tree functions simultaneously as construction, skin, infrastructure (air-conditioning, water-,and energy supply, lighting etc.), furniture, exhibition, playground and information-display. All these requirements are intertwined in a multifunctional structure.
The pavilion has a low-energy concept. Solar panels, water collection and adjustable air vents are all integrated into the architecture and part of the exhibition. Norway is on the forefront of water purification technology and these systems are used to purify rainwater collected on the pavilion roof. This technology is made visible and understandable to the public, who is invited to sip cooled, clean water from open taps. The ventilation system uses natural motive power (chimney effect plus wind).

Helen & Hard was founded in 1996 by Chartered Architect Siv Helene Stangeland and Ph.D. Ing.Reinhard Kropf. Today, the company has a youthful staff of 18 drawn from different countries. The firm works with interior design, architecture, art and town planning projects, and is located in Stavanger on the west coast of Norway.
Major awards:
Norsk Form’s  Award  for Young  Designers  2001, NALs price for young architects 2004, Short-listed for the International Chernikhov Prize in 2006, Short-listed for the Scandinavian “Forum Prize”, Wallpaper’s “Up and coming” in 2006.
Helen & Hard has been nominated as one of the 50 up and coming architect firms in Wallpaper’s 10 year jubilee issue.
Helen & Hard has been chosen as one of 8 European companies for the exhibition ”New Trends of Architecture” in Tokyo.
The Norwegian State’s Prize for good quality architecture 2009 for the Pulpit rock Mountain Lodge.