Living Lab: 28 Structures to Visit at Expo 2025 Osaka

Expo 2025, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, opens this Sunday, April 13! This edition is the World Expo’s return to traditional five-year scheduling, following the 2020 event’s delay to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also marks Osaka’s second time as the host venue after its debut in 1970.

With 28 million expected visitors and the expo set on the artificial island of Yumeshima, the concept explores what a people’s living lab looks and feels like. The set-up presents visions and hopes for the future of the built environment as a tangible space—one that people can walk through, question, and co-create. Structures from over 160 participants are spread across 155 hectares, with the masterplan divided into three equal zones representing the expo’s subthemes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives. The Philippine Pavilion is situated within the Empowering Lives zone, continuing the country’s long tradition of showcasing our culture, heritage, and biodiversity.

Kanto got a sneak peek at Expo 2025 weeks before the ceremonial opening, courtesy of the Philippine Pavilion team. The visit, initially intended to check out the construction of our country’s pavilion for a feature coming out #SoononKanto, eventually led to a journey of sensory delight. Here are 28 pavilions that caught our eye, all based on their immediate impact. In no particular order, these structures stood out for their loyalty to their concept, allowing each of their messages to dictate their form, design, and overall appeal.

Grand Ring

Designed by renowned architect Sou Fujimoto, the Grand Ring is the symbol and the main access point of Expo 2025. Spanning approximately 60,000 square meters, the timber structure is said to be one of the largest wooden constructions in the world. At first sight, the central visual showcases the combination of traditional Japanese construction methods such as nuki or penetration joints with modern techniques, all while providing shelter to visitors as a reminder of sharing space and blending with people from all walks of life.

Malaysia Pavilion

Among the expo’s official participants is Malaysia, which boasts its culture and vibrant economy through a bamboo structure featuring a captivating pattern of “interwoven ribbons” to embody the theme “Weaving a Future in Harmony.” As a whole, the Kengo Kuma Associates-designed pavilion evokes a fluid elegance of Malaysia’s iconic fabric ‘songket’, allowing the structure to glow and mirror the shimmering opulence of gold and silver threads at night. “This design highlights Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage, demonstrating how diversity can be a catalyst for creating an innovative, inclusive and sustainable future.”

Singapore Pavilion

The Republic of Singapore’s “Dream Sphere”, an immersive space showcasing Singapore’s future-forward aspirations, features art installations, performances and local food. It is a space for the senses that presents the country’s key principles for progress: commitment to innovation, resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity. The structure invites guests to share their dreams, encouraging them to be one with Singapore in bringing a collective vision to life.

China Pavilion

The China Pavilion is themed “Building a Community of Life For Man And Nature — Future Society of Green Development”. The exterior design of the pavilion is inspired by bamboo slips and shaped like an unfolded Chinese traditional calligraphy scroll. It highlights the Chinese philosophy that humans must respect nature, follow its way, and live in harmony with nature.

Joint Pavilion by Iida Group and Osaka Metropolitan University

Included in Expo 2025’s Domestic Pavilions is “Sustainable Mobius” by Iida Group and Osaka Metropolitan University, which stands as an expression of humanity’s “unchanging desire to live happily” and “hope for a radiant life.” Specially processed Nishijin brocade fabric was wrapped around the structure as a symbol of the fusion of future and tradition, while the interiors of the building touch on “futuristic housing” and “community planning” for healthy and comfortable living with new technologies and new energy sources for a decarbonized society.

Indonesia Pavilion

Inspired by Indonesia’s maritime history, the Indonesia Pavilion is patterned after a stylized boat hull. The structure follows an upward-curving shape to convey optimism in looking toward the future, reminiscent of how the country aims to preserve its cultural heritage while adapting modern advancements. “Don’t miss to meet our mascot TUMTUM!,” they share. “These three little spirits (were) born from an Indonesian ethnic pattern: TRUNTUM. There are 3 kinds of: Tumala, depicting elements of nature (a flower bloom); Tumbaya, a part of our culture (batik); and Tumasa, with a deep meaning of hope for the future.”

Hungary Pavilion

Focusing on music and cultural continuity and constructed with natural materials, the Hungary pavilion draws inspiration from the traditional construction techniques of both Hungary and Japan to reinforce the shared cultural values ​​of both nations. The main highlight of the structure is an immersive theater space that evokes the importance of people’s relationship with nature, told through a universal language: music.

Italy Pavilion

Mario Cucinella Architects creates a modern reinterpretation of the ‘Ideal City’ in the Italian Pavilion, with the highlighting Italian creativity in various fields such as craftsmanship, fashion, design, and engineering. The main façade features a grand colonnade that frames the entrance, shaping the visitor route inside. A service area is situated behind the self-contained showcase building, with the pavilion boasting a garden and rooftop serving Italian cuisine.

Czechia Pavilion

Talent and creativity take centerstage in the Czechia Pavilion, designed by Apopos Architects to have modern CLT panels, with the an artistic Bohemian Crystal façade. The circular visitors’ journey will lead the visitors from the ground to the roof through an interactive exhibition featuring Czechia as a creative nation with global impact.

Qatar Pavilion

Crafted by kkaa official, the Qatar Pavilion is a visual translation of Qatar’s traditional dhow boat construction and Japan’s heritage of wood joinery. It sits on top of a body of water, with the sea treated as a symbolic hub of resources and trade. It recognizes how trade has fostered strong bilateral relations between the nations.

Oman Pavilion

Natural and topographical features of Oman are highlighted in the country’s pavilion, representing the adaptability of Omani people and their harmonious coexistence with nature. It was designed to align with the “Saving Lives” sub-theme, showing the desire for a future society that is human-centred and harmoniously coexistsing with nature, all while promoting well-being and finding common ground among diverse perspectives.

Dynamic Equillibrium of Life

Signature pavilion “DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM OF LIFE “, conceptualized by biologist Fukuoka Shin Ichi speaks of the philosophy “to redefine life for a better society and future of the Earth.” The biologist writes: “There is actually no clear boundary between you and the environment. The atoms and molecules that makeup you are constantly being exchanged with the environment. And your life is in the grand flow starting from a single cell, miraculously born 3.8 billion years ago, and is handed over to the future.”

Uzbekistan Pavilion

The “Garden of Knowledge” by Atelier Brückner is Uzbekistan’s official pavilion for this edition. The exterior is designed with symbolic pattern elements derived from Uzbekistan’s embroidery, ornaments, and traditional patterns. Inside, the main exhibition space that is divided into three sections—education, innovation, and clean energy—underlining Uzbekistan’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sumitomo Pavilion

Domestic pavilion Sumitomo’s theme is “toward the future from a forest.” It aims to maintain interest in the social and environmental issues faced by society, offering interactive experiences in the forest where visitors can encounter various “stories of life” and participate in tree-planting activities.

Thailand Pavilion

The Thailand Pavilion, “VIMANA THAI”, is all smiles for Expo 2025. Its goal is to present Thailand as a paradise for healthcare and cultural wellness, showcasing the essence of Thai identity and blending local wisdom and innovation. Rooted in the Thai wisdom of “smile,” the design curves present Thailand not just as a travel destination, but as a hub for human happiness.

Future of Life

With the theme “amplication of life,” the Future of Life is a Signature Pavilion that aims to amplify possibilities in life by integrating it with technology. Ishiguro Hiroshi, Professor at Osaka University, said that half a century has passed since the Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970. “We believe that human life in the future will be designed by human beings themselves…. Life that is supported and designed by technology. Life that exists in technology.”

Portugal Pavilion

“Ocean, The Blue Dialogue,” the Portugal Pavilion, offers a unique and interactive multimedia experience that invites visitors to explore the ocean as a life-giving resource. It invites visitors to embark on a journey from the urgent challenges of today to the ambitious and ‘marvellous utopias’ that inspire hope for a sustainable future in our relationship with the ocean. “Nearly 500 years ago, the ocean united Portugal and Japan, and it continues to shape our shared future,” the team shares. “This theme is highlighted throughout the exhibition, in a diverse array of cultural and business events, and at our restaurant tables.”

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Among the playful signature pavilions is media artist Yoichi Ochiai’s exploration of digital nature. It is a massive, movable mirror sculpture where visitors can interact with an AI “mirror-body,” a digital version of themselves that they can take home. This experience, Ochiai says, prompts reflection on “what separates humans from machines.”

Osaka Healthcare Pavilion

Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, collaborated with universities and various industries to form the exhibit at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion. The exhibit asks: “Why not experience future food and health care together?” With the theme of “REBORN,” it provides an experience that allows both children and adults to enjoy experiencing the possibilities of Future Osaka from the perspectives of “life” and “health,” also meeting the future selves at 2050 based on their Personal Health Records.

Quiet Room

Young architects Onishi Maki and Hyakuta Yuki (o+h) designed a large roofed rest area for the World Expo, wrapping it in a vibrant large cloth that seamlessly flows to shelter the spaces below. “Because it is a temporary building, we focused on light materials that are not usually used for exteriors,” o+h shared with Pen Online Japan. “The fabric was provided by Uni Seni, a company in Osaka that manufactures fabric for women’s clothing… The image is that one large piece of fabric serves as the roof, and the building is wrapped in fabric just like a person wears clothes.”

Netherlands Pavilion

With the theme “Common Ground,” the Netherlands Pavilion by Plomp Architecture immediately catches eyes with its an anthropogenic or man-made rising sun. This feature is a symbol of a future empowered by collaboration and energy that is “clean, unlimited, and accessible for all: a new dawn.” It also features an open space where people can meet, learn from each other, and inspire one another.

Japan Pavilion

“Take a look at this space between lives and you’ll see that the world is made up of countless, tiny cyclical loops,” opens the design team behind the Japan Pavilion, a circular structure that embodies the cycle of life. The pavilion features wooden planks that marks the boundaries of its space, with gaps that allow visitors to glimpse through the interior. With the theme “Between Lives,” the structure and its exhibits showcase a connection of the outer and the inner, inspiring an understanding of what lies “between.”

Women’s Pavilion

For the Women’s Pavilion at the Signature Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, the Cabinet Office; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Cartier; and the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition collaborated with Cartier to deliver the manifesto: “When women thrive, humanity thrives.” Designed by Yuko Nagayama Associates, the pavilion will invite visitors to celebrate women from around the world and through their experiences and perspectives, call for a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future. 

Saudi Arabia Pavilion

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia captures its deep traditions in its pavilion, with Foster + Partners shaping it to recall Saudi Arabia’s traditional villages. A courtyard sits right in the middle of the structure, delivering a spatial experience that explores Saudi Arabia’s deeply rooted cultural heritage to its ongoing transformation, told through a sensory walk alongside digital installations.

Bahrain Pavilion

Lina Ghotmeh-Architecture followed the theme “Connecting Seas” for the Bahrain Pavilion, borrowing its design from the traditional Bahraini dhow, a type of boat once used to transport heavy goods around the coasts of eastern Arabia and east Africa. It is a nod to the historical resilience and adaptability of Bahrain’s sea culture, with an immersive exhibition presenting elements of its maritime heritage. 

NTT Pavilion

The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) joined the Signature Pavilions with a “parallel travel” concept, a pavilion where time and space intertwine. Using advanced communications infrastructure IOWN, the structure boasts spatial transmission technology that will merge distant places into one shared reality. “A future where distance dissolves, spaces unite, and presence is felt,” NTT says. “Welcome to the next era of communication.”

Poland Pavilion

Poland puts its “gene of creativity” first for its pavilion, presenting its creative people as the country’s main resource. The design is by Alicja Kubicka and Borja Martínez of Interplay Architects, a wooden structure resembling a spreading wave of Polish creativity and innovation. To heighten creative energy, the pavilion will feature a cycle of piano recitals in its concert room featuring the works of master composer Fryderyk Chopin.

Shining Hat

The main hall or Shining Hat at Expo 2025 by Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects is a site itself, a multifunctional venue with a 2,000 seating capacity. Its design recalls the Tower of the Sun from the 1970 Osaka Expo, which features a prominent golden circular roof and textured walls. Textured white fabric surrounds the interiors, with the ampitheater delivering a fitting spatial experience for celebrations such as theatrical shows, musical performances, and communal gatherings.

Philippine Pavilion

With the theme “Nature, Culture & Community: Woven Together for a Better Future,” the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 by Carlo Calma Consultancy gathered Filipino artisans to design its façade, symbolizing unity in diversity. It features more than 200 handwoven textiles representing 18 regions. Visitors will experience an immersive journey through a forest of woven artworks and an interactive AI-powered fiesta.  •

Expo 2025 Osaka will run for six months, closing on October 13. Tickets and more information are available at the expo’s official website.