France's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka,
designed by Coldefy, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
At this year's Expo 2025 World Expo in Osaka, one of the most anticipated structures is the France Pavilion, a project created by the French office Coldefy in collaboration with Italian studio CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati. The architects proposed something much more than a typical exhibition space. Their pavilion, dubbed "Theater of Life," is a thoughtful space that combines the function of an exhibition with a reflection on the modern world - its relationships, rhythm and changeability. The project encourages us to look at architecture as a tool for building dialogue - both between people and with the surrounding environment. It is worth taking a closer look at, because although it is being created for a temporary event, it carries ideas that will remain relevant long after the Expo is over.
The France Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - view of the facade
photo by Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
scenography of everyday life - architecture that tells a story
"Theater of Life" is not just a metaphor - the architects treated the space of the pavilion as a performance, of which every visitor becomes a participant. The tour takes place in four stages, resembling the acts of a theatrical performance: entrance, exhibition, garden and exit. Instead of a traditional linear route, visitors move along a looped path - passing through diverse spaces to eventually return to the starting point. This arrangement not only gives rhythm to the whole experience, but also emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and its variability. From the very first step - already on the outdoor stairs leading to the terrace - visitors enter the role of actor and spectator at the same time. The architecture invites participation, it does not impose a single way of perception, leaving room for individual reading of the space.
The French Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - a diagram of movement inside the pavilion
© Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
fabric, light and movement
One of the pavilion's most distinctive elements are the huge 17-meter-high curtains of fabric that hang on both sides of the facade. Reacting to wind and light, they bring the building to life and give it a dynamic character. Their presence alludes to theatrical curtains - suggesting that each visit to the pavilion is a new opening and another scene.
France's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - huge 17-meter-high fabric curtains are hung on both sides of the facade
Photo: Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
The architects also referred to the Japanese Akai Ito - a red thread that connects destined individuals. It's a symbol of relationship building in a world dominated by technology and distance. The pavilion is not so much about relationships as it is about creating them through physical presence, being together and experiencing the space in a sensual way.
France Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - first floor plan
© Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
An ecology that is not an add-on - circular architecture
The French Pavilion in Osaka is also a response to contemporary environmental challenges. It was designed with the circular economy in mind - the modules and prefabricated elements used can be easily dismantled and reused. The use of office containers, movable facades and lightweight structures means that the building not only goes up quickly, but also leaves a minimal environmental footprint. Once the Expo is over, the pavilion will not become architectural waste, but can be relocated, transformed or recycled. This approach - flexible and sustainable - is not just a technical solution today, but an expression of the attitude of responsible architecture that adapts to a changing world.
The French Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - a bird's eye view at night
Photo by Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
Culture and nature - two strands of one story
Inside the pavilion, visitors will find exhibition spaces showcasing French crafts, design and innovation. But an equally important element is the inner garden, which acts as a stop - a moment of reflection, respite and a return to the senses. This part of the tour is not an ornament - it is an integral stage of the narrative. It fits in with the main idea of the pavilion: that the relationship with nature should be as important as the one with another human being. In a world full of stimuli and accelerated decisions, time spent in silence and greenery takes on special meaning.
Inside the pavilion, visitors will find exhibition spaces showcasing French craftsmanship, design and innovation
Photo by Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
an international team
and a french voice in the global conversation
The project was developed through the collaboration of multiple teams - from the principal architects from Coldefy and CRA, to local partners from Japan, to specialists in construction, landscape, graphics and exhibitions. This diversity of expertise helped create a comprehensive project - combining high architectural ambitions with a practical approach to construction, ecology and reception by a wide audience.
As Thomas Coldefy notes, the pavilion is a space in which a person becomes part of a larger whole - an element of the scenery, but also an initiator of relations with the environment.
Even a brief experience - a spatial gesture, a surprising material or a shared moment - can have profound meaning
- emphasizes Coldefy.
The France Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - interior view.
Photo: Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
In turn, Carlo Ratti adds:
Permeated by a playful spirit, the France Pavilion is a dynamic and flexible space that fosters unexpected encounters. In an age of increasing polarization, physical space becomes a needed antidote. Unlike the digital world, it forces us to confront diversity and engage with perspectives that may challenge our existing beliefs. This reflects the mission of contemporary World Exhibitions - as vibrant places of open dialogue and discovery.
"Theater of Life" is not just a metaphor - the architects treated the pavilion space as a performance, of which every visitor becomes a participant
photo by Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
a space that invites reflection
The Pavilion of France is not only a striking realization for an international exhibition - it is above all an attempt to answer the question of what architecture can be today. Not as a form of representation, but as a tool for building bonds, shaping experiences and thinking together about the future. Despite the fact that the object is being built with a short time of use in mind, its message does not lose its relevance. It is a space that reminds us that even in a world full of technology, physical presence and experience are irreplaceable.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Carlo Ratti Associati studio.
