The right to sufficient and healthy food for all people is the focus of this year’s exposition. Unlike previous World Exhibitions this is not just exhibition, but an international discussion on the subject of sustainability. Fruit and vegetables have been eaten since prehistoric times and are deeply rooted in cultures all over the world. They are often even the subject of myths, legends and traditions. So fruit and vegetables are found in numerous pavilions as a design element or thematic element, for example the hanging gardens on the US Pavilion and the irrigation systems for tomatoes in the Israeli Pavilion.
The Swiss pavilion symbolizes the sustainability theme with, amongst others, fruit. The four chosen products, apples, water, salt and coffee should represent a sustainable, responsible, innovative and slightly traditional Switzerland.
The designers of the pavilions have tried to illustrate the abstract subject of "sustainability". The Swiss pavilion has succeeded; the visitors can collect the free samples that are available in the pavilion. Four towers are filled with dried apples, coffee and salt packets and water. The visitors can take what they want. The catch is that if each person takes what they want, or more, less remains for the next guests. But not every visitor realised the relation between abundance and sustainability, because after 17 days a quarter of the apples and water had been taken.
Source: www.5amtag.ch