Portugal pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka,
designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates
At the heart of the Osaka World Expo 2025 will be a project that combines history, culture and contemporary environmental challenges - the Portugal Pavilion, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and his studio Kengo Kuma & Associates. The building references the deep and centuries-old relationship between Portugal and Japan, as well as the role of the ocean as a key source of life and the foundation of global sustainability.
Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - interior view
photo by Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
The ocean - a bridge connecting two nations and a source of a shared future
More than 500 years ago, the assessment became a bridge connecting two distant cultures - Portugal and Japan. These historic ties, based on trade, cultural and technological exchanges, are today inspiring a new dialogue. Portugal's pavilion at Expo 2025 draws on this history to remind us of the importance of the ocean as a bonding factor between the past and the future. The exhibition space will feature the story of the nation's shipping, discoveries and maritime heritage that have shaped Portugal's identity and influenced the development of international relations. The exhibition showcases not only rich traditions, but also modern technologies that support sustainable development and environmental protection today.
Portugal pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - block view
photo by Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
Kengo Kuma - architecture immersed in nature and meaning
The design of the pavilion is an excellent example of the harmonious dialogue between architecture and nature, characteristic of Kengo Kuma's work. The pavilion was created from recycled materials, such as fishing nets, which together with suspended ropes create a light and dynamic structure reminiscent of the rolling sea. This organic form not only symbolizes the fluidity of the ocean, but also underscores Portugal's commitment to a circular economy and reducing its ecological footprint. The building integrates natural light and wind to create an immersive experience that allows visitors to feel as if they are immersed in an aquatic space. The apparent lightness and elevation of the pavilion's form, especially at the top, provides a strong visual accent. The whole invites reflection on man's role in relation to nature and responsibility for the future.
The pavilion was created from recycled materials, such as fishing nets, which together with suspended ropes create a light and dynamic structure
photo by Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
two-section exhibition - from history to the future
The interior of the pavilion is a carefully constructed narrative divided into two sections. The first takes visitors back in time, presenting Portugal's historical relationship with the ocean and its cultural ties with Japan. Using interactive displays, artwork and archival materials, it reveals the richness of its maritime heritage and its impact on social and technological development. The second section of the exhibition highlights contemporary environmental challenges and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Portugal's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka
Photo: Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
Through state-of-the-art multimedia solutions, visitors experience the issues of ecosystem degradation, climate change and the need to implement innovations for the balance between man and nature. This section also exposes Portugal's commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on the goals for living underwater and clean energy.
Portugal's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka
photo by Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
The pavilion as a center for culture, science and the economy
The Portugal Pavilion serves not only an exhibition function, but also a socio-cultural one. It houses a restaurant serving traditional Portuguese dishes that reflect the culinary heritage associated with the sea and its resources. In addition, the pavilion offers a gift store and space for cultural, economic and scientific events. The pavilion's multifunctionality enables a wide exchange of ideas and experiences, supporting the development of the blue economy, tourism and technological innovation. It is a place where Portuguese experience in sustainable ocean management combines with global trends and international cooperation.
Portugal's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka - inside is a workspace
photo by Tuğçe Arı © Kengo Kuma & Associates
A space for dialogue between history, technology and ecology
Portugal's pavilion for Expo 2025 in Osaka is much more than an architectural project - it is a comprehensive platform that combines history, culture and advanced technology in the service of a global dialogue about sustainability. Kengo Kuma's artwork, combining natural materials with modern form, and the carefully constructed exhibition program, create a space that engages and educates, prompting reflection on man's role in relation to the ocean and the environment. Throughout the Expo , the pavilion will become a place to meet, share experiences and present solutions that have a real impact on the future of our planet.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.
