Dutch Pavilion in Hannover Expo 2000 World’s Fair

Environmental architecture or modern Prometheus’ nightmare

Abstract

Hannover Expo 2000 World’s Fair was held under the motto: Man, Nature and Technology – Origin of a New World. Almost twenty years afterwards, the Dutch Pavilion remains as the most representative image of not only the disciplinary field but also mass culture. Under the motto Holland creates space, MvRdV sought to devise a self-sustaining unit grounded on the water-cycle artificial recreation. The aim was to show the plausibility of the co-existence of both population density and quality life increase. Global culture times –which are characterized by the ceaseless flow of mass consumption images- have led to the discussion of architecture’s own role as never before because of the conditions affecting its grounds. They have also given raise to a gap between the completed object and the individual’s space experience as well as a conflict absence considered to be a cultural productive value. Criticism becomes crucial when facing the hegemonic discourse that indistinctively imposes behaviors. It should be necessary to focus on the key role played by the discipline in the development of symbolic capital which deals with environmental concerns as emerging contemporary issues.