The Austria Pavilion Expo 2025 turns Austrian musical heritage into a participatory spatial experience, from a self-playing grand piano to an interactive instrument.
OUR ROLE Sound Scenography, Musical Direction // CLIENT Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, EXPO Office Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (Alf Netek, Helmut Döller) // GENERAL PLANNER BWM Designers & Architects // ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERAL THEME BWM Designers & Architects // EXHIBITION DESIGN & CONCEPT BWM Designers & Architects in collaboration with facts and fiction // SCENOGRAPHY facts and fiction // PRODUCTION (Sanding) Graf-Holztechnik // STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Werkraum Ingenieure ZT GmbH // MEP PLANNING Energytech G.m.b.H. // BUILDING PHYSICS K2 Bauphysik GmbH // LANDSCAPE DESIGN PAISAGISTA Landschaftsplanung // PROJECT MANAGEMENT Werner Consult Ziviltechnikergmbh // GENERAL CONTRACTOR Nüssli Gruppe // MUSIC Mozarteum // PHOTOS & VIDEOS Expo Austria
The sonic concept carries musical motifs through the pavilion in changing forms. Themes first heard in the piano performance return in later spaces, shifting from acoustic reference to electronic texture. In the final hall, visitors influence the music in real time. Their choices become part of a collective composition that connects tradition, participation and spatial sound.
A glimpse of this experience is now available online:
The sound concept moves from the resonance of a self-playing grand piano toward a futuristic instrument that visitors can take part in. Motifs first heard in the piano performance return in different forms across the route.
As visitors approach the final hall, these motifs shift into electronic textures. In the final room, visitor choices alter the music in real time, turning listening into participation.
What begins as listening becomes participation; what begins as tradition evolves into the sound of the future.
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