KAZAKHSTAN PAVILION
THEME: The Gateway to Tomorrow
SIZE: 3,500 sqm
CLIENT: Kazakhstan, QazExpoCongress
DESIGN: Insglück Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung mbH
FABRICATION: NUSSLI Group
ADDITIONAL FIRMS: Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants, ARDECO, Neumann and Müller
PHOTOS: Andreas Keller, NUSSLI Group, Insglück
Principles of ancient Kazakh architecture, including the ingenuity of a yurt, were incorporated into the design of the Kazakhstan Pavilion — as well as the traditional headdress of the Kazakh people, which served as inspiration for the façade. Inside, an interactive exhibition allows guests to immerse themselves in the country of Kazakhstan and experience its themes with all their senses. Through four thematic areas spread out across three floors, the country presents its rich, millennia-old nomadic culture alongside its modern ideas and innovations. On their trip from the past to the future, visitors experience an impressive presentation, knowledge labs, tactile installations, digital effects, mixed reality and more, culminating in an audiovisual conclusion in which man and machine meet through dance. Inspired by the country's dynamic developments, visitors are encouraged to follow their own path, connect with their visions, and collectively shape our future.
The exhibition begins with replicas of prehistoric rock engravings and a fascinating show on the shared heritage of humans. Conveying the message that we are all connected through our DNA, and our roots have brought us together, the presentation showcases Kazakhstan’s landscapes and biodiversity.
A science and chemistry lab, interactive exhibits, and creative workshops provide explanations of important topics in a playful way that is appropriate for both young and old. Here, tactile installations showcase Kazakhstan's rich natural resources. The digital grass of the "Great Steppe," which visitors can move with their arms, is enabled by a complex lighting control system installed throughout the pavilion.
From exhibits highlighting the past on the ground floor, a staircase leads up to the Kazakhstan of today. Along the way, a "living map" of the city of Nur-Sultan impressively introduces the Kazakh capital. An innovative, mixed-media presentation brings the city to life with lighting effects and animated infographics showing the development toward a sustainable and intelligent “City of the Future.” In the “Future Now!” exhibition area, an interactive table that symbolizes each individual visitor's contribution allows guests to shape their own visions and experience future-oriented projects and challenges.
Finally, in a 180-degree multimedia show inside the Panorama Cinema, acrobats interact with a robotic arm in a choreographed dance depicting a future in which humans and technology work and live together in harmony. The interaction between the robotic arm and the acrobat symbolizes the transition to a shared future and is supported by an audiovisual installation on a large-format screen. The message is clear: Humans need technology, and technology cannot emerge without humans. As they exit via a staircase, guests reach a leafy inner courtyard, which offers a place to linger and contemplate the pavilion’s key messages.
