Austria will be using a 9,000-year-old building material made of sand, silt and clay to create its pavilion for the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai, the first such event in the Middle East and Africa region, thus showcasing an age-old technique in sustainable construction.

Located at the Expo 2020's Opportunity Thematic District, the pavilion explores historical solutions to sustainable construction, in a laid-back setting and also offers a haven for relaxation and contemplation.

The Austria Pavilion’s exterior will comprise about 60 interlaced cones of differing heights created from loam, a compostable soil that has been used in construction for millennia, said a staatement from the Expo 2020 organisers.

The positioning of the cones will allow for natural ventilation, reducing the temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius and eliminating the need for mechanical air-conditioning – representing intelligent resource-efficient architecture that is as robust as it is smart.

Inside, an interactive exhibition will illustrate the theme ‘Every good idea begins with the right question’, through the stories of Austrian thought-leaders and change-makers. An Innovation Lab will stage a series of temporary exhibitions, workshops and installations, they stated.

The Austria Pavilion represents the country’s ambition to use Expo 2020 Dubai as an opportunity to delve into its past in order to create a fresh dialogue for solving modern-day challenges.

With striking visuals and thought-provoking ideas, the pavilion will underline the nation’s status as a multifaceted powerhouse of innovation, said the Expo 2020 organisers.

Visitors will be able to unwind and share ideas while enjoying Austrian delicacies at the Viennese coffee house – an institution recognised by Unesco as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’ – or step into the shaded courtyard’s tranquil surrounds, it stated.

Expo 2020 Dubai expects 180 participating countries, with more than 170 already confirming. More will reveal their pavilion designs in the coming months, as the mega event progresses towards its Two Years to Go milestone, on October 20, it added.-TradeArabia News Service