Rio 2014 • Baixo Suíça

The first time the House of Switzerland appeared at a major international football tournament was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The public enjoyed the creatively staged presentation of Switzerland, which drew on the country's traditions but with an exuberant, celebratory feel.

Thanks to the location of its fan zone between the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches of the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, the House of Switzerland enjoyed optimal visibility and became one of the festive landmarks of the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Parallel to the public broadcasts of the matches, the House of Switzerland presented both the traditional and creative sides of Switzerland. A real-life St Bernard (Barry) there as ambassador, skis, cowbells, cable cars, giant sledges and snowballs, Swiss concerts and a restaurant with a Swiss chef all piqued the interest of the public, who were keen to discover more about a country unfamiliar to most Brazilians.