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Bio-Based Visions at Expo 2025 Osaka: A New Chapter in Pavilion Architecture

  • Writer: Bauhuette 4.0
    Bauhuette 4.0
  • May 13
  • 3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago


The Grand Ring is the symbol of Expo 2025 Osaka. Photo: Kitsupphat Na Lampang
The Grand Ring is the symbol of Expo 2025 Osaka. Photo: Kitsupphat Na Lampang

As the world prepares to gather in Osaka for Expo 2025, a new generation of architectural thinking is emerging—one that places circularity, regenerative materials, and bio-based design at the heart of international collaboration. From Germany to Japan, national pavilions are no longer showcases of technology;

They are testbeds for climate-conscious construction. This shift signals a maturing of sustainable architecture and a redefinition of how temporary exhibitions can leave lasting ecological legacies.


From Expo 2020 Dubai to Expo 2025 Osaka: A Shift in Vision

Compared to Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo 2025 Osaka marks a notable shift in sustainability strategy:


- Material Innovation: While Dubai showcased recyclable and biodegradable materials (e.g., mycelium, orange peels), Osaka introduces regenerative systems, such as algae-infused plastics and circular timber systems like the Grand Ring.

- Circular Thinking: Dubai emphasized net-zero architecture (e.g., Terra Pavilion), whereas Osaka embeds circularity into national pavilions, treating the buildings as part of material ecosystems.

- Spatial Symbolism: Dubai's pavilions were stand-alone icons. Osaka's Grand Ring offers a unifying, wood-based infrastructure that reflects interdependence and shared environmental goals.

Storytelling: Osaka integrates immersive, social storytelling—as seen in the Cartier Women's Pavilion and the experiential programming within national displays—beyond just informational exhibits.



Pavilion Trends: Circularity and Bio-Based Design Take Center Stage

Across the Expo 2025 site, pavilion architecture reflects a collective shift towards material accountability and systems thinking:


The Grand Ring: A Monumental Timber Structure at the Heart of Expo 2025 Osaka


At the center of Expo 2025 Osaka is an unprecedented structure: The Grand Ring—a 2-kilometer-long wooden canopy encircling the entire expo site. Designed by renowned architect Sou Fujimoto, the Grand Ring serves as a spatial framework and a symbolic gesture, representing the Expo's core theme: "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."


The structure is built using Japanese cedar (sugi) and cypress (hinoki)—species native to the area and deeply rooted in Japan's architectural tradition. These woods are celebrated for their durability, pleasant aroma, and lightweight properties, making them ideal for large-span constructions with minimal environmental impact. Beyond its technical innovation, the Grand Ring symbolizes national collaboration, uniting forestry networks and carpentry traditions across Japan. The timber components are designed to be dismantled, reused, or repurposed after the Expo, transforming the Ring from a temporary structure into a prototype for circular urban infrastructure.


Its elevated walkways, shaded gathering areas, and panoramic views create a continuous architectural experience, physically and metaphorically connecting global pavilions under one regenerative roof.


The Grand Ring, World Expo 2025 Osaka. Photo: Kitsupphat Na Lampang


Across the Expo 2025 site, pavilion architecture reflects a collective shift towards material accountability and systems thinking:- The German Pavilion (LAVA Architects) showcases circular design with reusable components and bio-based materials focused on carbon tracking.

Germany Pavilion | LAVA (Hotaka Matsumara/Courtesy German Expo Pavilion retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/DI2ALihy_C9/?img_index=1
Germany Pavilion | LAVA (Hotaka Matsumara/Courtesy German Expo Pavilion retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/DI2ALihy_C9/?img_index=1

The Japan Pavilion presents plant-based plastics infused with algae and modular structures reflecting tradition and innovation.

The Japan Pavilion World Expo 2025 Osaka. Photos: Kitsupphat Na Lampang


The Bahrain Pavilion highlights ecological sensitivity through minimalist wood structures and passive cooling strategies inspired by regional architecture.


The Bahren Pavilion World Expo 2025 Osaka. Photos: Kitsupphat Na Lampang

The Uzbekistan Pavilion experiments with compressed earthen elements and lightweight bamboo systems to reduce embodied carbon and create a vernacular-inspired atmosphere.

The Uzbekistan Pavilion World Expo 2025 Osaka. Photo: Kitsupphat Na Lampang

These examples show how architecture at the world stage is evolving—embracing nature as material, logic, and narrative, while connecting national identities with climate goals.

In summary, the evolution from Expo 2020 to 2025 reveals a maturation of architectural sustainability—from symbolic gestures to systemic, circular frameworks that engage local materials, global themes, and shared futures.


References ArchDaily. (2024, April 15). One Week to Expo 2025 Osaka: 8 Must-See National Pavilions.https://www.archdaily.com/1028820/one-week-to-expo-2025-osaka-8-must-see-national-pavilions

MaterialDistrict. (2024, February 9). A New Dawn on Common Ground: The Circular Vision of the Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. https://materialdistrict.com/article/a-new-dawn-on-common-ground-the-circular-vision-of-the-netherlands-pavilion-at-expo-2025-osaka/

Sou Fujimoto Architects. (2023). The Grand Ring - Master Plan for Expo 2025 Osaka. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ring

Japan Pavilion Official Website. (2025). Guide to the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. https://2025-japan-pavilion.go.jp/en/guide/

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