oki sato envisions japan pavilion for expo 2025 osaka as timber ring

japan pavilion at expo 2025 osaka imagined as a living organism

Nikken Sekkei and nendo’s Oki Sato have revealed their design for the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka — a self-sustaining structure that embodies the idea of continuous transformation and reuse. The pavilion is envisioned as living organism and shaped as a monumental ring formed from layers of cross-laminated timber arranged in a semi-transparent formation. This rhythmic facade encloses multiple entrances and exits, allowing glimpses through the gaps to observe the biodegradable energy system and exhibition sites within, inspiring an understanding of what lies ‘between’ — a distinct tenet of the structure’s theme of eternal connectivity without beginning or end. The design team further carries forward the event and pavilion’s sustainability efforts by envisioning a modular system with panels that can be easily disassembled and repurposed in buildings across Japan well beyond the duration of the event.

all images courtesy of Oki Sato

Oki sato & nikken seikei craft modular timber structure for reuse

Traversing the pavilion’s circular path, composed of three interconnected zones the journey reveals different aspects of the circulation theme, and ensures each visit offers a slightly different experience. Firstly, by prioritizing reuse, environmental impact, and experiential storytelling, Oki Sato and Nikken Sekkei present an approach to extend this temporary architecture beyond its initial purpose, ensuring it can adapt to new contexts and continue its lifecycle after Expo 2025 Osaka concludes.

Further rethinking conventional, static exhibition spaces, the architect envisions the ‘living’ pavilion as a biogas plant that processes waste from the Expo site itself. The process in which microorganisms break down organic waste, generating biogas to help power the structure, is embraced and presented as an interactive installation, inviting active participation.

the pavilion is shaped as a monumental ring