Laboratory of Life

The Czech pavilion, designed by Chybik+Kristof Associated Architects, presents the latest progress in nanotechnology for water purification as well as traditional Czech Republic’s relation to water in the form of the swimming pool, which is part of the public space of the pavilion.

The pavilion is a modular structure. The important aspect of modularity is the possiblity of dismantling the building after the show, move it back to the Czech Republic and reuse modules of the pavilion.

The architecture of the pavilion refers to the simplicity of the national style – modernism. A swimming pool, a small amphitheater and a restaurant can be found at the bottom part of the pavilion. On the first floor there are exhibition spaces around a central atrium and another restaurant, these are followed by an open green roof that provides visitors with a view of the whole area of the exhibition. The interior of the pavilion is being designed in collaboration with leading contemporary Czech artists.

When the exhibition will close the pavilion can be disassembled into individual modules and transported back to the Czech Republic where it could find another use. The pavilion will not necessarily fulfill the usual fate of the exhibition pavilions, meaning decay or demolition. The lower part may continue to serve as a restaurant with a swimming pool, for example on the Prague waterfront. And after simple modification the top two floors can be used as kindergarten, art gallery or student housing.

Pavilion of the Czech Republic, Laboratory of Life, Expo Milano 2015
Author: Chybik + Kristof Associated Architects
Team: Ondrej Chybik, Michal Kristof, Krystof Foltyn, Pavel Hruza, Vojtech Kouril,  Veronika Mikulkova, Radim Musil
Partners: Miss3.cz
Client: The Office of the Commissioner of participation of the Czech Republic at EXPO 2015
Implementation: KOMA Modular s.r.o.
Area: 3,200 sqm
Completion: 2015