Photo: Tobias Andersson Åkerblom

The Swedish Pavilion

The pavilion functioned as a platform for operations and activities included in the Swedish participation.The pavilion design was based on the overall theme for the Expo, Better City, Better Life, and the Swedish theme Spirit of Innovation. The aim was that it should reflect the meeting between the city, nature and humans.

The pavilion was created with sustainability as a core value. The total area was about 3.000 sqm. It had three floors and consisted of four equally sized volumes connected by glass bridges. The exhibition area was about 1.500 sqm, which was situated on the first and second floors. On the entrance floor, a café and a shop could be found, carrying e.g. Swedish coffee, candy and souvenirs. The conference department (VIP Section) was placed on the top floor, where partners could arrange their own events and meetings. From the VIP area it was possible to access the roof top bar which was situated on top of the entrance hall with a view over the Expo park and the Shanghai skyline.

A short time after the Expo had closed, October 31, it was announced that the Swedish pavilion will remain in China. The Chinese city of Tangshan has bought it, planning to dismantle it and rebuild it in the Eco-City Caofeidian, located near Tangshan. Caofeidian International Eco-City is one of the most progressive urban development projects in China today and the Swedish pavilion will continue to be used as a platform for Sino-Swedish relations.