Between April 13 and October 13, the world fair
Expo 2025 Osaka takes place, gathering people, projects, and innovations from all over the world with the purpose of addressing problems faced by humanity on a global scale. Held on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka, Japan, the event occurs 55 years after the Expo 1970 Osaka, the first world fair of its kind in Japan and Asia. With the theme 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives' (
Projetando a Sociedade Futura para Nossas Vidas), Expo 2025 Osaka features representatives from 158 countries, including
Brazil, and is expected to receive around 28 million visitors. The event brings hope for a
better future, to overcome the current global crisis, protect life, and reflect harmonious coexistence styles. Held since 1851, the
Universal Exhibitions aim to promote cultural and technological
exchange, showcasing innovations and scientific advancements that shape the future. Additionally, they strengthen diplomatic and commercial relations, boosting strategic partnerships between countries. They also generate economic impact by stimulating tourism and urban development of the host cities. Here are some highlights from this year's edition below!
Brazil Pavilion, by Bia Lessa and Apex
Curated by
Bia Lessa, the
Brazil Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka was organized by the Brazilian Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments (ApexBrasil). Upon entering the first building, visitors will encounter inflatable objects shaped like plants moving on the ceiling. On the floor, islands with
beach chairs and papers scattered with messages from various authors, as well as dolls in the shapes of humans and animals that rise and fall. On the walls, recyclable bags filled with air also move up and down. There is also a panel at the back with an image of the Sun, which then changes to a red color until it goes dark. This indicates that the world, facing the challenge of global warming, risks losing nature.
Japan Pavilion, by Nikken Sekkei and Oki Sato
Designed by architects
Nikken Sekkei and
Oki Sato, the
Japan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is a self-sustaining structure conceived as a living organism and shaped like a monumental ring made of cross-laminated
wood. This
modular facade allows glimpses of the biodegradable energy system and exhibition spaces inside. According to Oki Sato, of the
Nendo studio, the idea was not only to create an exhibition showcase but something visitors could see in action. Moreover, the structure can be reused in another project, which presents an approach to extending this temporary architecture beyond its initial purpose, ensuring that it can adapt to new contexts and continue its lifecycle after the exhibition ends.
Saudi Arabia Pavilion, by Foster+Partners
The
Saudi Arabia Pavilion consists of angular buildings connected by passages resembling streets at Expo 2025 Osaka. The idea came from the British studio
Foster + Partners and the design agency
Journey, who signed the project, and references traditional villages in the country. The spaces feature a series of immersive audiovisual exhibitions that complete the setting and help visitors feel like they are in Arabia. Aligned with the exhibition theme, the pavilion was made with a lightweight, reusable modular structure, in addition to a facade of
stone panels, steel structure, and pre-cast concrete slabs. The layout was designed to allow for passive heating and cooling, with cool winds coming from the west in summer and a landscaped courtyard providing shelter from stronger north winds in winter.
United Kingdom Pavilion, by Woo Architects
The early innovations of the Industrial Revolution served as inspiration for the London studio
Woo Architects to create the design of the
United Kingdom Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, which features a pixelated facade made of folded metal. Standing 14 meters tall, the pavilion has a structure with square perforations reminiscent of the punched cards used in the early 19th century, especially those used in textile looms to create complex patterns. Aiming to incorporate the theme of the Expo, the architects drew similarities between the punched cards and the binary code patterns used by computers to process data.
The three-story pavilion features outdoor terraces designed to offer views of the water and aerial shows, and the front gardens are inspired by British landscapes. Built with a grid structure of 10 by 10 meters on a lightweight foundation system, the pavilion was designed to be dismantable and reusable. France Pavilion, by Coldefy and Carlo Ratti Associati
A huge copper-clad helical staircase conceals a secret garden and stands out in the
France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, designed by
the French company Coldefy and the Italian studio Carlo Ratti Associati. The structure is made of reusable steel and is based on references ranging from romance and connectivity to theatrical architecture. Installed on the
front facade, the staircase rises to a viewpoint and symbolizes the Japanese legend Akai Ito, which suggests that people destined to meet are tied by an unbreakable red thread. Furthermore, it guides the circulation of the pavilion, leading visitors to the top of the building as they move through the exhibitions. Uzbekistan Pavilion, by Atelier Brückner
A set of wooden columns, resembling a forest, shapes the
Uzbekistan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, designed by the German studio
Atelier Brückner. The proposal references the ancient shelters along the old Silk Road, between Europe and Asia. Named Knowledge Garden: a Laboratory for a Future Society, the pavilion comprises two floors with exhibitions that showcase both the country’s traditions and contemporary innovations. The upper level was created to imitate a
garden filled with trees, which grew from a base covered with bricks, representing the soil and earth. "The Silk Road was a place where different cultures met, exchanged ideas, exchanged experiences, and I think it explores exactly the idea of the Expo," says the founder of Atelier Brückner, Shirin Frangoul-Brückner.
Qatar Pavilion, by Kengo Kuma
The
Qatar Pavilion, designed by the
Kengo Kuma & Associates office, presents an architectural reflection on dualities: land and sea, tradition and innovation, Qatar and Japan. The construction displays the fluidity of fabrics, the solidity of wood, and stories carved into the coasts. The shape comes from a traditional sailboat, which was a vital vessel for the development of trade and pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf. The white, curved roof, suspended by a
wood structure, evokes both a sail catching the breeze and the calmness of
craftsmanship. The Qatar Pavilion celebrates construction methods and incorporates wood joinery techniques, inspired by Qatari and Japanese traditions.
