Lifestyles

Sometimes solutions to modern challenges come from something as old as dirt – literally. The innovative, heat-regulating Austria Pavilion is constructed entirely from humankind’s oldest building material: loam, a soil of sand and clay. The dozens of cones that make up the pavilion use thermodynamics to pull in cool air from below and push warm air out the top, providing a natural climate-control mechanism. Their elegant blend of simplicity and ingenuity makes the pavilion both a calming oasis and a perfect place to explore innovations such as the heartbeat installation, which transforms your heart pattern into a dynamic digital projection.

This Caribbean nation, nicknamed “Nature Island”, is an eco-adventure, where you can snorkel in waters fizzing with volcanic bubbles or soak in hot springs after a day of hiking along its 240 kilometre National Trail. Fall for its rustic charms at the Dominica Pavilion, where you can enjoy island music, taste native foods, and get to know its indigenous people. The island boasts the highest number of centenarians per capita in the world, a fact they credit to their diet and relaxed lifestyle. One thing this laid back nation is serious about? Becoming the first climate resilient island in the world to better face the challenges of the future.

In Bhutan, a rich traditional culture thrives alongside innovative modern ideas such as Gross National Happiness, created by this Himalayan nation to prioritise people’s well-being over economic production. The Bhutan Pavilion at Expo 2020 offers visitors a wide-ranging tour of this diverse nation, from its beautiful snow-covered peaks to its artisanal treasures. Experience a traditional Bhutanese mask dance, explore the 13 varieties of handicrafts that have moulded the nation’s identity, and catch digital video features on Bhutan’s culture and sand mandalas.

Belarus is a place where the new and old coexist – where an emerging high-tech hub thrives alongside the ancient Belovezhskaya Pushcha, one of Europe’s last remaining primeval forests. The Belarus Pavilion honours this harmony between nature and technology with its “smart forest” full of inventive exhibits to explore. Beginning with the digital grove of stylised trees outside and continuing through the interactive tunnels and art displays within, visitors to the pavilion will journey through an ingenious Forest of Future Technology. Chat with a herd of virtual wisent (or European bison), tour a giant tree of innovation and much more.

Chile is a country of contrasts, from the nearly rainless Atacama Desert to the fertile farmlands that make the nation one of the world’s leading food exporters. At the Chile Pavilion, get a delicious taste of its agricultural bounty while exploring the country’s diverse peoples and landscapes. With a design inspired by traditional Chilean architecture, the pavilion offers a market-style retail area, as well as an alley of high-definition screens that showcase Chile’s natural wonders, sustainable tourism destinations and more. Venture deeper inside to find the sampling area, where you can taste the some of the country’s amazing produce.

For centuries, the Cabo Verde archipelago off the western tip of Africa was a vital stop for sailing voyages to recharge on their way across the Atlantic Ocean. The Cabo Verde Pavilion makes the island nation a must-see stop on your journey through Expo 2020. You’ll experience the country’s unique blend of European and African cultures, learn about its sustainable development and world-class coffee production, and feel the warm embrace of Cabo Verdean hospitality, or “Morabeza”.

Belgian comic book character Tintin is always on the move, so it’s only fitting that the country’s showcase honours his colourful legacy. The Belgium Pavilion at Expo 2020 offers a unique comics-inspired tour of the future of mobility, letting you see yourself as a character as you explore smart infrastructure, self-driving vehicles and more. The pavilion’s lush, curved exterior takes the form of a “green arch”, which uses sustainable technologies to produce more energy than it uses. Inside, you’ll dive into a fun comic-strip world of interactive walls and expeditions into the Belgium of 2050. Don’t miss the country’s famous fries!