16 June 2025
The standout feature of the Austria Pavilion is an eye-catching spiral that stretches up to the sky. The execution of this monumental sculpture was technically demanding and required state-of-the-art planning, calculation and manufacturing methods. The 91m-long, 4.3m-wide “ribbon” consists of an upper and a lower edge that are interlaced with 265 diagonal struts. The inner surface is designed as a musical staff, featuring the opening bars of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. On the outside, the bare timber construction is on full display – complete with all its joints and structural details.