The State of Qatar has just opened its national pavilion's doors at Expo Osaka 2025. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates in collaboration with Qatar Museums, the pavilion blends traditional craftsmanship from Qatar and Japan while highlighting the two countries' connection to the sea, which is understood as a hub of resources and a medium for trade and knowledge exchange. The exhibition will be on view until October 13, 2025, aiming to showcase Qatar's innovations across diverse fields.
Drawing inspiration from Qatar's traditional dhow boat construction techniques and Japan's wood joinery heritage, the pavilion subtly combines cultural references to reinforce the bilateral relations between the two countries. First images of the pavilion show a complex wooden structure covered in a veil of white fabric, a nod to the design of the traditional sailing vessels typically used for trading across the coasts of Eastern Arabia, East Africa, Yemen, and coastal South Asia.
Inside the pavilion, OMA*AMO presents a multimedia exhibition that delves into the cultural, industrial, and environmental narratives shaped by Qatar's 563-kilometer coastline. The exhibition highlights the nation's advancements towards the Qatar National Vision 2030 and showcases investment opportunities aimed at economic diversification under the Third Qatar National Development Strategy 2024-30. Additionally, the exhibition provides a unique experience reflecting the robust cultural, trade, and traditional connections between Qatar and Japan.
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First Look at Expo 2025 Osaka: Previewing Sou Fujimoto's Masterplan and the Initial National Pavilion DesignsThe second floor of the pavilion includes a curated library and a meeting room, with seating designed by Maryam Al Homaid. A dedicated display highlights the longstanding cultural dialogue between Qatar and Japan, featuring works by artists Yousef Ahmed and Hayaki Nishigaki, originally created for the Qatar–Japan 2012 Year of Culture initiative. Aligned with the Expo Osaka's theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," aims to strengthen Qatar-Japan ties, highlight Qatar's development, and promote it as a top tourist and business hub, showcasing its history, present, and future.
World Expos have long served as a platform for nations to come together and showcase their most innovative ideas and designs. The recently opened event continues this tradition by highlighting contributions from around 500 participants from 150 countries. Many other countries have also unveiled the completed photographs of their national pavilions. These include Lina Ghotmeh's design for the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Manuel Herz Architekten's design for the Swiss Pavilion that explores lightweight building materials, and the US Pavilion by Trahan Architects celebrates contemporary American achievements.
We invite you to check out ArchDaily's comprehensive coverage of the Expo Osaka 2025.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 9, 2024, and updated on April 17, 2025, following the official announcement of the completion.
