Switzerland has recently unveiled its pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 in Kansai, exemplifying a forward-thinking approach to blending culture with sustainable architecture. The pavilion, designed by Manuel Herz Architekten in association with Bellprat Partner and NUSSLI, reflects the expo theme, “Designing the Future Society for Our Lives.”
The structure of the pavilion will focus on three central themes, “Augmented Human” (highlighting robotics, AI, and AR/VR), “Life” (exploring life sciences, education, health, and nutrition), and “Planet” (addressing sustainability, climate, and energy). The pavilion highlights broader discussions on global issues like sustainability, climate change, and energy. It contributes through thematic weeks as an interactive and educational playground fostering Swiss and Japanese relations.
The pavilion is designed as four lightweight, connected, recyclable double-chamber ETFE foil chambers, which allow quick construction and also set a record for the lightest structure ever created by the Swiss on a World Expo level. Bellprat Partners designed the interiors, using colour and light to distinguish various zones amid luxuriant vegetation.
Manuel Herz Architects plans to use plants to cover the spheres that will spread forth in all directions, “We grow the plants in local nurseries so that every kilogram of plant weight corresponds to one kilogram of CO2 removed from the atmosphere,’ the studio clarifies. Meanwhile, the ‘back-of-house’ features repurposed modular elements with an eventual afterlife. The foil, and ultimately the entire pavilion, are equally recyclable and will be converted into furniture and other uses once Expo 2025 Osaka concludes.”
The “Spheres of Swiss Innovation” promises to impress the expected 28 million visitors during the expo. The pavilion will also host a rooftop bar that provides expansive views and serves as a gathering space for festivalgoers, creating an educational and entertaining space.
Manuel Salchli, Commissioner General of the Swiss Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka, shared his excitement for this collaboration, stating, “As a founding member of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Switzerland has participated in the majority of world exhibitions. With past appearances, we have succeeded in establishing an attractive brand with the Swiss Pavilion. After my first assignment as Pavilion Director at Expo 2005 Aichi, it is a pleasure and an honor for me to further deepen the already close Swiss-Japanese friendship 20 years later as Commissioner General.”
Recently, CADG unveiled the China Pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025. Additionally, BWM Architects revealed the design for the Austrian Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025. Well-known architects such as Kengo Kuma & Associates unveiled the design for the Qatar Pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025.
