AUSTRIA PAVILION Theme: Composing the Future Size: 481 m² Entrant: Facts and Fiction GmbH, www.factsfiction.de/en Design: BWM Designers and Architects Fabrication: Nüssli Additional Contributors: Kling Klang Klong, Elisabeth Gutjahr, Grosse8, Zone Media, Werkraum Ingenieure ZT GmbH, Graf Holztechnik, Shinohara, Dream Design Factory, Bewunder Photos: Stefan Schilling Fotografie Video: Cinewerk GmbH
The Austrian pavilion is centered around the overarching theme of Expo 2025 Osaka – Designing Future Society for Our Lives — and it showcases the country’s contribution to shaping the future.
But in Austria, the future is not designed; it is composed.
Japanese people mainly associate Austria with the classical music of the 18th and 19th centuries. This is also what inspired the narrative of the Austrian pavilion, which takes us from the past to the future, from the known into the unknown — toward a modern, visionary, and innovative Austria. A musical installation guides guests through the exhibition all the way to the final show, where they come together to compose the world of tomorrow.
Architecture Visitors are welcomed by a dramatic spiral-shaped centerpiece of oversized musical notes, emphasizing the pavilion’s music theme. The 91-meter-long wooden ribbon, supported by steel pylons, rises 16 meters and resembles a musical staff, displaying Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. This soaring structure symbolizes joy and progress, and serves as a striking landmark for the Austrian pavilion.
Exhibition Inside, the musical motif continues as guests follow a digital trail through different rooms.
Room 1 – Relationships A Bösendorfer grand piano and historic chandelier root the room in Viennese classical tradition. The piano plays itself as a film traces Austria-Japan cultural ties from 1869 to today, blending history with immersive storytelling.
Room 2 – People and Ideas Five interactive notes highlight Austrian personalities and innovations for the future. Visitors engage with games and take AI-powered selfies, connecting personally with Austria’s forward-thinking initiatives.
Room 3 – Composing the Future Guests enter a towering, immersive space called the Cathedral of the Future, surrounded by a spiral of sheet music. At digital lecterns, they select a sustainable development goal, which becomes an instrument in a collaborative, AI-driven musical composition. The experience culminates in a visual and musical celebration of Austria’s innovative spirit and hope for the future.
