The 2025 World Expo will be held in Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan from April to October. The artificial island of Mengzhou has transformed from a container terminal into an international stage, becoming a window to showcase global wisdom and culture. The highlight of this Expo lies not only in the advanced technology and creativity, but also in how traditional and modern architecture tell stories of sustainability and humanity in the form of dialogue.
"Dawugen" is the central activity area and main passage of this World Expo
Dawugen: A legend of wooden structure in modern architecture
As a landmark building of the Osaka Expo, the Oyagan has attracted much attention with its circular wooden structure. Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, it covers an area of 60,000 square meters, is 12 meters high and 615 meters in diameter. It is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world today. Sou Fujimoto's design philosophy is centered on "blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature" and emphasizes the dialogue between architecture, humans and nature. He proposed the concept of "unfinished architecture", believing that architecture should not be a fixed, closed existence, but an open, growing process. His architectural style often breaks traditional forms, pursues flexibility and transparency of space, and incorporates natural elements into it, making the building light, transparent and harmonious in the environment.
The design of Oyagan is inspired by ancient Japanese wooden structure construction techniques. Wooden structure buildings have a long history in Japan, with many classic works appearing as early as the seventh century AD, such as the Horyuji Temple in Nara, which is famous for its complex column and beam structure. These buildings are assembled with mortise and tenon joints, achieving stability and beauty without the need for nails, demonstrating the ultimate use of natural materials and respect for humanity. Sou Fujimoto drew on this craft in the design of "Oyagen", combining traditional wooden construction techniques with modern architectural language to form a design that is both traditional and innovative. The circular trail in Dayugen is like a bridge to the future, allowing visitors to feel the sedimentation of history and the power of modern times as they walk through it. The natural scent of wood and the transparent structure of the building together create a calm and comfortable atmosphere, which is the best interpretation of Sou Fujimoto's concept of "integration of nature and architecture".
Qatar Pavilion: The cultural poetry of the dhow
Another eye-catching pavilion is the Qatar Pavilion designed by Kengo Kuma. Kengo Kuma is one of the most famous contemporary Japanese architects, and his architectural style is also deeply influenced by traditional Japanese culture. He opposed the cold reinforced concrete high-rises in modernist architecture and was committed to using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, and stone to blend with the environment and create "soft architecture." His designs often emphasize the dialogue between buildings and the surrounding natural environment, making buildings a part of nature rather than destroying nature. He advocated "Architecture of Disappearance", which means that buildings should blend into the environment in a low-key manner rather than proudly dominate it.
The Qatar Pavilion is set against the surrounding waterscape, creating an image of a ship sailing on a calm sea.
The design of the Qatar Pavilion is inspired by Qatar's traditional Dhow Boat. The dhow is an ancient navigation tool in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region, carrying the heavy responsibility of trade and cultural exchange thousands of years ago. For Qatar, this type of ship symbolizes the origin of maritime civilization and is also a witness to Qatar's history as a maritime trade center.
A sloop is a simple but powerful vessel, with a hull usually made of solid wood and a sail made of light but strong cloth. Kengo Kuma’s design captures the essence of this, covering the wooden structure with white fabric, just like a sailboat setting sail in the wind, light yet full of power. At the same time, he incorporated Japanese joinery. Joinery is a technique that requires precision and beauty that dates back to the Heian period and was commonly used in the construction of shrines, temples and traditional houses. Kengo Kuma's combination of these two completely different traditional crafts embodies the exchange between Qatar and Japan culture, and also symbolizes cross-regional cooperation and integration.
In addition, the museum uses solar panels to provide energy and has an efficient water management system. Natural light and ventilation design further reduce energy consumption. All these arrangements demonstrate the designer's responsibility for the environment. At the same time, the exhibition hall uses a variety of exhibition areas to present Qatar's evolution from history to the future, demonstrating how it finds a balance between tradition and modernity.
