The Danish EXPO 2010 - Welfairytales

The Danish Pavilion will present new images, new ideas and new knowledge related to how Denmark can create sustainable cities with a high quality of life. The tales of the common challenges, common opportunities and common approaches integrated in the Danish Pavilion should invite and inspire both Chinese and global visitors to new and lasting partnerships with Denmark and Danish companies.

The exhibition
The pavilion exhibition is an unfolded living fairytale book. The fairytale book combines images, film, words and sound, inviting visitors to try out the Welfairytales themselves. Welfairytales presents new stories from Hans Christian Andersen’s native country. It is a fairytale about modern Denmark today and tomorrow in three chapters:

“Tales of how we live” is about how Danes live and structure their daily lives in the cities. It tells a tale of how cities can be created that focus on a high quality of life and sustainability. This chapter is produced by director
Martin de Thurah,

“Tales of what we love” is about the Danes and includes personal stories of what makes life worth living. Its personal fairytales explain what should be in focus to create the cities of the future in order to give people better opportunities to develop and be happy. This chapter is produced by photographer Peter Funch.

“Tales of where we’re going” is about our vision for a joint Danish/Chinese future, about how Danish-Chinese cooperation in the fields of technology and knowledge can improve life in the cities of the future.



The architecture
The Danish Pavilion is more than a traditional exhibition pavilion. It is an opportunity to try out Danish city life and see the original, famous Danish sculpture, the Little Mermaid. It is also possible to jump on a city bike to meet the Danes, their lives and their dreams. And you can enjoy a picnic and dip your toes in the water of the Harbour Pool.

The Harbour Pool
The Danish Pavilion is wrapped around the Harbour Pool. It allows the visitor to experience what it is like to paddle round the Danish harbour.

The Harbour Pool emits light into the meeting and business event area of the lower floor through a large window. In this way the meeting and business facility, designed for our VIP guests, becomes an extension of the Harbour Pool.

The sea as a recreational resource means a lot to the Danes.
After years of concentrated efforts to reduce pollution, it is now possible to swim inside the harbour areas of many cities.

The Little Mermaid in Shanghai
At the centre of the Harbour Pool is the Little Mermaid, who has been sitting on Langelinie in Copenhagen since 1913. On 12 March 2009, the City of Copenhagen gave their final approval to let the famous Danish landmark travel abroad for the first time; she will be exhibited at the Danish EXPO 2010 Pavilion in Shanghai.

The idea to move the Little Mermaid from Copenhagen to Shanghai is a gesture of cultural generosity and also an invitation to cultural dialogue between Denmark and China.

Bench and fountain
Danish artist Jeppe Hein has designed a social bench going through the inside and outside space of the Danish pavilion. Besides being an artistic and social approach, the white steel bench also functions as a barrier between the pedestrians and the cyclists. In addition, Jeppe Hein will create an interactive fountain where water walls rise and fall in interaction with the movement of passers-by.

Denmark Day, 29th of June and weekly performances
The programme for the Danish National Day, Denmark Day, is targeted at the official delegation, the Chinese and the international audience. Additionally the Danish Pavilion intends to hold weekly music performances entitled `Mermaid Music` with the participation of differentDanish and Chinese musicians and bands.