Foster + Partners reveals the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Inspired by Saudi Arabian towns and cities, the pavilion will be located at the Yumeshima waterfront.
Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The pavilion takes visitors on a journey of discovery and chance encounters that – layer by layer – paint a vivid picture of Saudi Arabian culture. Our design plays with scale, light, sound, and texture to stimulate all of the senses while showcasing some of the country’s most innovative and exciting accomplishments.”
Leo Warner, Director of 59 Productions, said: “Architecture and story have been woven together via this uniquely collaborative design process. The pavilion will be a social organism, incubating the work of contemporary Saudi practitioners in state-of-the-art facilities, and dynamically integrating their work into immersive experiences that evolve throughout the 6 months of Expo.”
Foster+Partners said the Saudi Arabia Pavilion is made from low-carbon materials, includes energy-saving luminaires, adopts rainwater recycling, and incorporates photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity. The project aims to achieve the Japanese green building rating system’s highest level and is on track to achieve the Net Zero Operational Carbon target. In addition, a series of WELL design principles have been implemented to enhance the health and well-being of occupants.
Tony Miki, Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “Creating a legacy for the pavilion, once the Expo comes to an end, has been central to the design process. The structure’s cladding is made from lightweight Saudi stone and designed to be efficiently deconstructed and reassembled, or completely reconfigured, to meet different requirements in a future location.”
