PROJECTS
As Sou Fujimoto’s masterplan for the next World Expo takes shape in Japan, several participating nations including Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands and China reveal the designs for their pavilions, showcasing innovation and diverse visions for a “future society.”
By Jason Santos
15 July 2024
A visual of Sou Fujimoto’s Timber Ring Roof, inspired by Japanese woodworking craftsmanship, which will encircle the Expo 2025 site | Image Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Over a million visitors are set to converge on the Japanese city of Osaka for the upcoming Expo 2025, which is scheduled to run for a period of 6 months from April 13 to October 13, 2025. The World Expos are organized by the Bureau International des Expositions with the aim to be a global stage for nations and organizations to unveil cutting-edge technologies and solutions. With the theme of “Designing Future Society for our Lives,” Expo 2025 will seek to address global challenges and inspire innovative ideas that enhance our collective future with many of the pavilions addressing the climate crisis head on.
Construction is currently underway for the masterplan designed by celebrated Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto in collaboration with Japan-based Tohata Architects and Engineers and Azusa Sekkei. As work progresses, many of the 47 participating countries have begun revealing visualizations of their respective pavilions. Here’s a glimpse into what’s in store come April 2025.
The Ring Roof will form the primary circulation around the exhibition, allowing for both weather protection and views from various vantage points | Image Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Kuwait Reveals a Visionary Lighthouse
Conceptualized by international design firm LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture), the Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2025 presents a forward-thinking concept featuring an open-winged facade that beckons visitors into an immersive experience. Illuminated to evoke a “visionary lighthouse,” the exterior sets the stage for a journey through the Middle Eastern nation's past, present, and future.
Designed by LAVA, the Kuwait Pavilion will welcome visitors with illuminated wings | Image Courtesy of Kuwait Expo 2025 Osaka
Inside, the pavilion will unfold with spaces that narrate Kuwait's history as a trading hub, engaging visitors with interactive walls highlighting the nation's people, cultural diversity, and scientific advancements. The culmination of the journey will be a central dome, inspired by the serenity of a starry desert sky, where dreams and aspirations for Kuwait's future will be projected. Elements of Islamic architecture have influenced the design, including courtyards and a traditional Kuwaiti garden adorned with indigenous plants, which will enrich the sensory experience and connect visitors deeply with Kuwait's culture.
Netherlands Proposes A “New Dawn” on Renewable Energy
The focal element of the Dutch pavilion is an illuminated globe sitting among ripples, symbolizing a man-made sun that dissipates clean, unlimited and renewable energy made accessible to all — “a new dawn.” The ripples reflect the Netherlands’ strategies towards sustainable power generation through water-based technologies.
A visualization of the Dutch Pavilion’s illuminated orb floating amongst ripples | Image Courtesy of Plomp & RAU Architects
A collaboration between Amsterdam’s RAU Architects, DGMR Engineering Consultancy, Asanuma for construction and Tellart, an experience design studio, the pavilion will take visitors on an experiential journey that introduces them to new technologies that harness energy from water. Its design and materials embody the concept of water’s circularity, viewing it as a zero-emission resource. With all materials being reusable and renewable, the pavilion underscores the Netherlands’ commitment to innovation for sustainability.
China’s Pavilion Will Embody the Culture and Spirit of its People
The China Pavilion at Expo 2025 seamlessly integrates the country's rich cultural heritage with sustainable development, embodying a holistic approach towards a green future. Resembling traditional Chinese inscribed slips, the pavilion draws design inspiration from the country’s rich literature and elements of bamboo. It also brings focus on China's philosophy of development, emphasizing harmony with nature as essential for progress.
The ‘bamboo slips’ inspired facade of the Chinese Pavilion will integrate the country's rich cultural heritage with sustainable development | Image Courtesy of China Architecture Design Group
The Beijing-based China Architecture Design Group (CADG) have designed the halls of the pavilion to be free of columns and for the exhibition spaces to be flooded with natural light to further drive home the message of coexistence of natural and built environments. Through the pavilion, visitors will interact with events and performances that offer insights into Chinese culture and spirit as well as its endeavors towards a sustainable future.
Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion Will Straddle Innovation with Tradition
Designed by London-based Foster + Partners and inspired by the traditional architectural forms of the region’s towns and villages, the Saudi Arabian Pavilion aims to throw light on the country’s endeavors towards innovation and technological advancements while staying true to its deep-rooted cultural heritage. “The pavilion is crafted to take visitors on an exploratory journey, gradually unveiling the rich tapestry of Saudi Arabian culture,” describes Head of Studio, Luke Fox, on what visitors can expect. “Our design strategy focuses on utilizing scale, light, sound, and texture to engage all senses, highlighting the country’s pioneering achievements.”
The lush fore court with interactive passageways mimics traditional Saudi Arabian villages in architectural massing, circulation and scale. | Image Courtesy of Foster + Partners
On entering the pavilion’s forecourt, adorned by the country’s local flora, one will be led down explanatory routes that paint a picture of the country’s culture and its “undiscovered wonder.” Resembling village pathways, the journey will lead to a central courtyard — a distinctive element of Saudi architecture — becoming the nucleus for the pavilion's activities and a venue for performances.
Switzerland Sets High Expectations with a Proposal for the Most Ecological Pavilion
Manuel Herz Architekten, the designer behind the Swiss Pavilion and founder of his eponymous studio based in Basel and Cologne, envisions it as a harmonious blend of natural and man-made environments, portraying coexistence in a seamless architectural form. Transparent globes will showcase Switzerland's pioneering contributions in science, education, and environmental stewardship, offering an interactive experience that connects visitors with the natural surroundings.
The Swiss Pavilion’s transparent globes will allow for natural elements to percolate into built spaces representing the intertwining of the natural and built world | Image Courtesy of Presence Switzerland
The Swiss Pavilion aims to achieve the smallest ecological footprint among Expo 2025 pavilions by utilizing a lightweight fluorine-based film (ETFE) for its four interconnected globes, supported by a modular steel structure. Following the event, the ETFE membrane will be repurposed into furniture, and the modular steel elements will be reused in future projects, ensuring a sustainable and reusable design approach for the entire structure.
