Interview Judith Torres
Images Carlo Calma Consultancy (Philippine Pavilion)
Hello Carlo! Congratulations again for winning the pavilion commission! What is the central theme or concept of the Philippine Pavilion, and how does it reflect the Philippines’ culture and aspirations?
Carlo Calma Consultancy, lead designer of the Philippine Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka:
Pavilion Title: Woven
Pavilion Theme: Nature, Culture & Community: Woven Together for a Better Future.
In the Philippine Pavilion, ‘Nature‘ represents our mega biodiversity. Visitors are invited to discover our wealth of captivating destinations. They learn that preserving our natural heritage is crucial for the well-being of current and future generations.
Culture celebrates how we express our identity through creativity and innovation. Visitors discover the imagination and resourcefulness of our Filipino communities as they create sustainable products by combining natural materials, waste materials, and emerging technology.
Community reflects the rich diversity of our people and the strength of our unity. Visitors experience the spirit of Fiesta as a joyful and inclusive celebration of diversity and common ground.
Woven Together for a Better Future expresses our Filipino identity and our commitment to remaining a society where the bonds between nature, culture, and community are nurtured and celebrated.
The core message is that by embracing our diversity and interconnectedness, we can create a future that empowers the lives of all living things in alignment with the expo’s vision for a more inclusive and sustainable world. This pavilion is an immersive, multisensory invitation to visit the Philippines in person, experience this deep connectedness first-hand, and discover the many reasons to Love the Philippines.
What inspired the pavilion’s design, and how have you integrated elements of Filipino heritage and innovation into the architecture?
The pavilion’s design draws inspiration from the metaphorical concept of “Woven.” Its architecture mirrors the sturdy structure of warp and weft, the two fundamental elements of weaving, symbolizing the enduring strength of community, unity, and creativity. Constructed with over a thousand pieces of woven rattan expression of “threads,” the pavilion exemplifies the scalability of weaving, transcending traditional furniture scales to showcase its potential at a building scale.
This architectural piece serves as a testament to the future of handicraft, emphasizing its significance in an evolving digital landscape and celebrating the labor of love inherent in the Filipino brand of craftsmanship. Symbolic threads adorn the pavilion with a gesture of ongoing progress expressed through extending terminations, giving the illusion of continuous movement.
As a tribute to our indigenous culture, 212 woven textiles provide a vibrant touch of color to the pavilion’s natural-colored façade. Each is encapsulated within a weather-sealed assembly, allowing it to sway with the wind, symbolizing our long history of resilience.
How are you representing the diverse cultures and traditions of the Philippines within the pavilion’s design and exhibits?
Core to the Philippine Pavilion theme and experience are the actual weavers representing the national craft that is foundational to the overall pavilion concept. We proudly represent weavers and examples of craftwork from different weaving communities in the Philippines, honoring and celebrating their work through our experience. We are meaningfully bringing awareness and representation to these communities in the largest-ever collaboration of Filipino community weavers in one project through the Expo.
How does the Philippine Pavilion address sustainability, and what innovative features or technologies are being implemented to achieve this?
The pavilion’s commitment to using natural materials is significant, underscoring its dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Specifically, the incorporation of natural rattan serves as a poignant tribute to the abundant biodiversity of the Philippines.
By showcasing this tropical fiber, the pavilion celebrates the nation’s diverse ecosystems and champions a material deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. Generations of Filipino artisans have intricately woven rattan, symbolizing tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. In choosing rattan, the pavilion pays homage to these skilled weavers while also highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous materials in a globalized world.
Furthermore, this choice resonates deeply with the inherent cultural practice of utilizing natural materials. Indigenous textiles in the Philippines, crafted from natural fibers such as abaca, silk, pineapple, banana, and bamboo, embody this tradition of harmonizing culture with the natural world. Thus, the pavilion celebrates the profound interconnectedness between nature and culture, highlighting the importance of preserving both for future generations.
Can you share any notable collaborations or contributions from artists, designers, or other professionals that have influenced the pavilion’s design?
We are proud to host the biggest collaboration of Filipino community weavers in one project and the largest collection of weaves in one site.
Outside the pavilion, 212 pieces of unique woven tiles handwoven with love by different weaving communities in the Philippines will adorn the rattan-clad façade. Each piece represents each ethnolinguistic group’s distinct culture and craft, passed on from generation to generation, sourced from the largest network of weavers collaborating for the Philippine pavilion. With support from the DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute, each piece will be handcrafted with love by weaving communities from all 18 regions of The Philippines, symbolizing unity through diversity.
Inside the pavilion, 18 storytelling textiles will artistically symbolize the 18 unique regions of the Philippines and their destinations, distinct characters, and rich heritage. In collaboration with weavers from different communities all over the Philippines, our design team has diligently sourced sustainable raw materials from across the archipelago, including natural fibers and yarns endemic to the Philippines.
Each textile was handcrafted by local artisans over eight months. This labor of love represents the largest weaving collaboration of its kind, celebrating material sustainability, traditional techniques, and local craftspeople.
What have been the most significant challenges in designing the pavilion, and how have you overcome them?
We have a great Japanese team, but when we started last year, we were looking for a good contractor who could deliver the construction on time—not to mention that most participating countries were also looking for their contractors at that time.
Another significant challenge is coordinating weaving communities across the whole archipelago—representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—but with the help of DOST-PTRI research, we can link to a large network of weaving communities.
What kind of experience do you want visitors to have when they visit the Philippine Pavilion, and how are you planning to engage them?
With a forest of woven artworks and a colorful AI dancing fiesta, the design inside the pavilion is set to be a spectacular experience. To inspire people to visit and fall in love with the Philippines, Tellart is designing the guest experience to highlight how nature, culture, and community can be woven together for a better future.
Stepping through the entrance, visitors will be welcomed by hosts into a dynamic and immersive space. The space will feature a media installation of colorful projections displayed on hanging threads. With the rhythm of weaving looms and the design of the space, we will create a sense of anticipation of what’s coming next.
As part of the journey, guests will walk through a forest of exquisitely woven artworks organized into the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Upon closer inspection, guests will uncover the intricate details that make each region truly special.
From the coral cities of Mimaropa’s seas to the secret recipes of Eastern Visayas, each artwork tells a compelling story of its region, with intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and evocative designs reflecting the unique essence of their respective region.
This endeavor showcases the weavers’ skill and deep bond with the Philippines’ natural and cultural riches. The 18 storytelling textiles will artistically symbolize different Filipino destinations. By sharing the distinct characters, rich history, and cherished traditions, the artworks will vividly illustrate the captivating diversity that defines the nation.
Filipino weavers have diligently sourced sustainable raw materials from across the archipelago, including natural fibers and yarns. Taking eight months to handcraft each of the textiles by hand, we anticipate the labor of love by local artisans may be the largest weaving collaboration of its kind, celebrating material sustainability, traditional techniques, and local craftspeople.
Guests will then step into a musical, joyful celebration embodying the Filipino Fiesta spirit to bring people together in dance. At the leading edge of creative technology, interactive AI, and sonic design, the space will imagine a fiesta, with expressive visuals coming to life on a screen of nature, color, and imagination as people move and play. The design is informed by deep research into the cultural traditions of communities and the wonders of the natural world.
Guests will hear a chorus of voices as live performers in colorful costumes sweep into the room. Their live music will instantly add an added dimension to the Fiesta. There will also be an AI photobooth, a gift shop, a café, and a place for a massage.
Many of the bespoke artworks will live on after Expo 2025 in traveling shows and in their homelands to preserve cultural heritage and continue to inspire people to discover and rediscover the Philippines. With experiential design, this extraordinary country of islands will come alive in a heartfelt story of connectedness and unity, sharing the beautiful diversity of nature, places, people, and culture that makes the Philippines so unique.
What personal touches or signature elements have you incorporated into the pavilion that reflect your architectural style or philosophy?
Our Pavilion features an interactive façade featuring dynamic live performances from a human dance troupe woven into the building’s structure.
Traditional dance and craft performances will occur at auspicious times of the day, bringing the vibrancy of the site to life and ensuring guests can experience our content before or after entering the space itself, capturing visitor attention and asking the question—what if the pavilion itself were alive and able to communicate our vision to people?
This is the first time this type of interactive, live façade has ever been deployed at a World Expo, and we are extremely proud of the opportunities this innovation creates.
What do you hope will be the lasting impact of the Philippine Pavilion on both local and international visitors, and how do you envision it contributing to the Philippines’ global image?
The Philippine Pavilion is a tribute to the unparalleled creativity that defines the Filipino spirit and empowers countless lives. Adorned with a façade meticulously handcrafted by generations of artisans, the pavilion serves as a poignant reflection of the Filipino labor of love.
It is a testament to the intricate craftsmanship and unwavering dedication that binds together our culturally diverse communities, showcasing the strength found in our differences. United by our passionate hands and fueled by our unique creativity, the pavilion embodies the essence of Filipino strength and the transformative power that emanates from our collective spirit.
How does the Philippine Pavilion relate to the Expo theme?
Situated within Expo 2025’s Empowering Lives zone, the Philippine Pavilion is a beacon of cultural significance and communal empowerment. From its inception, the pavilion’s design has been imbued to showcase handwoven materiality, reflecting a deep appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and heritage.
Rooted in the rich history of Filipino communities, where generations of artisans have perfected the art of weaving, the pavilion stands as a testament to creativity’s vital role in uplifting Filipino lives. Through its homage to the skilled weavers who have shaped these communities, the pavilion not only celebrates cultural identity but also aims to inspire visitors with the transformative power of artistry and innovation in enriching lives.
Do you have other key sustainable elements you want to share?
Circularity
Circularity is a key theme for the Philippines Pavilion, focusing firmly on ensuring that a structure that needs to stand for six months uses sustainable materials and follows clear circularity principles of Reduce, Repair, Refurbish, and Recycle. The entire design team is aligned on a commitment to planning and building the experience with these circularity design principles at the core. Furthermore, we focus on indigenous renewable materials, handmade materials made in the Philippines, and ensuring modular disassembly and relocation for a second life back home on Philippine soil.
Indigenous Renewable Materials
We are committed to upcycling—using transformed, recycled, and renewable natural materials in the textile weaves and products of the retail area. This stands for Filipino creativity, resourcefulness, and a commitment to nature.
Handmade in the Philippines
We will need to build in The Philippines, which gives us a chance to not only manage the surge in Japanese construction costs, but also bring the best of The Philippines, straight from the communities, to the Expo.
Second Life Back Home
We will design for shipping, assembly, disassembly, shipping and installation back home in the Philippines where it can serve a second life (i.e. on travel shows, museums).
What are your strategies to streamline the construction of the pavilion in Osaka? Who are you collaborating with locally for architecture, engineering, electricals, etc.? How much of the materials and labor will be sourced in Osaka? What materials and objects will you be flying or shipping to Japan?
The pavilion’s construction employs a strategic modular approach, facilitating efficient assembly and contractor coordination. Dividing the structure into two main components—a metal substructure and modular woven rattan cladding—streamlines the process. The metal substructure is sourced from Japan for optimal efficiency, while local artisans in the Philippines craft over a thousand pieces of woven rattan. Production is centralized in Cebu, a UNESCO Creative City for Design known for its skilled exporters and furniture industry. Additionally, vibrant woven textiles, enclosed in modular sealed frames, add a colorful finish, with around 212 pieces produced locally.
Thank you very much, Carlo and team, for all the hard work on the Pavilion!
Likewise! We would like to invite everyone to come visit the Philippine Pavilion in Osaka from April 13, 2025 to October 13, 2025! •
Expo 2025 Philippine Pavilion
Design Team and Partners
Lead Architectural Firm/Designer: Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc.
Guest Experience Designer: Tellart
Creative Director/Producer: Chochay Garcia
Executive Architect | Lead Project Manager: Yuki Kanou
Executive Architectural Firm: CAT Inc., Somato Inc.
Structural Engineer: Yasuhiro Kaneda Structure, ATA Co., Ltd
MEP Engineer: Syou Sekkei Engineering, Eos Plus
Façade Engineer: ALT Cladding
Project Management: Cat Inc., RF Construction Development Corporation
General Contractor: Asakawa-Nishio JV Corporation
