Expo 2020 Dubai: German pavillion promises to be a 'moving' experience

Dubai - Germany is the only country to have two pavilions.

“Keep the tissues ready. You will need it when you exit the German pavilion at Dubai Expo.”

Ambassador Peter Fischer cautions as he describes the unique ‘swinging experience’ awaiting visitors at the grand finale at the ‘graduation hall’ of the German pavilion.

“There are around 90 swings. As people swing together, a massive globe will slide down to the centre. People will realise that there is much more that unites them than divides them. I can tell you that it is an out-of-the-world experience that will make you cry. It will give you hope,” said Fischer in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times.

Germany is the only country to have two pavilions – the official country pavilion representing the Federal Republic of Germany and a second house by Baden Wuttenberg – one of Germany’s sixteen federal states.

Built at a cost of 50 million Euros in the Sustainability District, the official German pavilion is designed like a ‘campus’ where visitors are ‘enrolled’ ‘inducted’ and offered a ‘curriculum’ in sustainability before they finally ‘graduate.’

“Our activities have impacted the earth. We need to make the planet sustainable and we can do it with our intelligence and creativity. If we come together, we can put global development back on track for future generations. That is the message that the German Pavilion, ‘CAMPUS GERMANY’, will set out to convey at Expo 2020 Dubai,” said the ambassador.

“We have made great strides in renewable energies. Nearly 40 percent of German’s electricity is made from renewable sources. Germany is also witnessing a revolution in sustainable transportation modes. We will be showcasing the best lessons in sustainability from our experience,” said the envoy.

In short, a visit to ‘Campus Germany’, the country where the “Energiewende” - the energy revolution - was born, will be a masterclass in sustainability.

Enter Campus Germany

The pavilion has inter-connected cubes with a central atrium at its heart.

“It is a green, open area, offering many surprising perspectives and panoramic views. Like a real campus, you will see people walking around, interacting like a true democratic place true to the EXPO theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” said Fischer.