Hungarian Pavilion
The idea of the wining concept is the following: Shanghai, this huge metropolis with 20 million inhabitants can be comprehended through its density, thus making it comparable to our notion about a city. The pulsation and dynamic growth of this density can be shown through an architectural model as an exhibition installation.
The central element of the Hungarian Pavilion is the Gömböc, a mathematical model, which became objectified. Its harmonic movement is similar to the pulsation of a city; this feature is magnified by the structure of the pavilion through its dynamically moving vertical elements, creating density at the same time. The hanging wooden rods make the visitors feel like walking in a forest, and their rarefaction refers to glades, just like squares in the city.
The architectural installation of the pavilion map the growth of a city, the dynamics of change, letting visitors experience its processes through sense organs. Every single element of the wooden installation behaves like a musical instrument. The system of nearly 600 moving sound boxes create a wavering sound space. The inner space of the pavilion is illuminated by natural sunlight in the daytime, while at night it turns into a starlit sky through the lights built in the sound boxes.
The idea of the Hungarian Pavilion approaches the theme „Better City, Better Life” in a philosophical way. Referring to the Hungarian wisdom and creativity, the Pavilion will come up with a special feature, rather making visitors think than trying to entertain them in the traditional way, with shows and hectic programs. The architecture and design of the pavilion itself will express the main message of Hungary.
The Gömböc, the central theme of our pavilion has a close ideological relation with Yin Yang, both symbolizing the pursue for harmony and balance. This is what Hungarians wish to realize in urban development as well.
Significant changes had to be made on the exterior plans of the pavilion, due to the strict requirements of Expo, so we had to make a compromise in this sense. Through the interior self-supporting structure the architecttual installation can work independently from the original frame of the pavilion. Several questions had to be discussed with the contractor, but all in all we can say that the main idea of the concept remained the same, and I am very happy about it! It was really good to see that all the lingual and cultural differences could be well bridged through drawings, analogue thinking in images, mathematics and physics as a common language, working as a communication channel.
Creating a city territory for me is the same as creating the basic elements of human life: let there be sunshine, free space, clear water, healthy air!
The architectural tender fixed the Gömböc, this new Hungarian scientific invention as the central element of the pavilion. This objectified mathematical formula carries the pursuit for harmony and balance. We connected this idea with the slogan of the Expo in the following way: we highlighted the the pulsating, dynamic life of the city, which is similar to the Gömböc. This idea defines the city as a living organism, as an artificial nature. We present this through a fabled vocal forest, in which woods are „growing” up and down, and we are flying in this ever-changing space, just like birds. We are supported by fundamentals: light, empty space, water, air as building units. These, fed by the same source, assemble to form a pulsating unity, creating a wavering saound and light space, illuminated by natural light through the water curtain in the daytime, and as a starlit sky at night. We processed analogous phenomena of nature, which can be experienced, in an artificial way. Sounds come from lives of Hungarian cities, Hungarian lingual fragments, native birds or the inanimate nature. All these sounds can be mixed by a computer to create a so-called generative music, with close relationship with the generative movement of the space. This sound effect works with a cycle spanning a whole exhibition day: it is different in the morning, noon or at night, but every visitor can experience the phenomenon itself, even if they do not spend their entire day in the pavilion!
The Gömböc, as the central element determined the way it introduces the country as a creative and playful nation. Visitors can experience this in details through the interactive screens. Since the pavilion is an exhibition space itself, the Hungarian Expo-participation is accompanied by events organized outside the pavilion. These events will include the Hungarian National Day and an entire series of cultural programs, performances of famous Hungarian musicians and exhibitions introducing the Hungarian culture and history.
The basic experience, which is typical of Shanghai as well, is that not the shape of the city is the most specific, but its density. Not the momentary, spragged shape is the most exciting, its growth and pulsation is much more interesting.
The Hungarian Pavilion accelerates this pulsating feeling, making visitors able to personally experience it through sensitive organs.
