The ninth largest country in the world, Kazakhstan is home to ancient steppes where nomads dwell and astronauts land. Those stark contrasts are given life in its magnificent pavilion, where guests are introduced to the Central Asian country in an enchanting pre-show presentation. Poised on a platform, a sand painter twirls delicate grains into images representative of Kazakhstan's history – emperors, stallions, and mountains – on a backlit glass panel that then appear on a large projection screen.

That homage to history and ingenuity sets the tone for tactile exhibits to come. In one, apple-shaped frames containing monitors hanging from an apple tree tell the story of the fruit's Kazakh origins. Meanwhile, visitors are treated to a sample of kumis, a surprisingly sour Kazakh beverage made by fermenting horse milk.

In a nearby aquarium, sturgeon (representing the country's caviar production) are so playful that they can be petted like Golden Retrievers. The fish are just a few feet away from a video game where the object is to use drones to hunt down locusts. After locating the winged predators, visitors gather around an interactive floor relief of the Aral Sea, which, when they twist the black handrail encircling it, displays devastating changes in the sea's water levels.

"The juxtaposition of Kazakhstan's past and future was mirrored by an artfully restrained use of high-tech implements alongside low-tech, tactile components," said EXHIBITOR magazine editor Travis Stanton. "If surprise and delight are measures of success, then this pavilion is a successful amalgamation of memorable experiences and picture-perfect vignettes."