London’s WOO architects and structures specialist ES Global have revealed fresh designs for a UK pavilion to feature at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan

The pavilion has been designed around the theme ‘Come Build the Future’ – the result of a competition launched in June 2023 to find a £24 million showcase scheme.

Similarly to an earlier design iteration revealed last year, the pavilion features a fully dismantlable and relocatable modular system designed for ease of transportation.

However, the façade now features perforated aluminium strands ‘to invoke the punched cards used in early calculating machines’.

These will be intertwined via a weaving technique, inspired by the textile industries which fuelled the 19th century industrial revolutions in both Manchester and Osaka.

WOO architects is a King’s Cross-based practice, born in 2014 out of the design team for the London 2012 Olympics, while ES Global specialises in ‘semi-permanent, sustainable structures’.

An earlier design revealed by the design duo in March 2024 featured a colourful modular system with similar massing, while the perforated, ‘woven’ texture appears to be a product of subsequent design development.

More than 150 countries are participating in the six-month Expo event, which run for six months from 13 April to 13 October on Yumeshima Island, Osaka, showcasing ‘the latest breakthroughs in science, technology and culture from across the planet’. More than 28 million people are expected to attend.

UK Sponsors, announced today (16 January), include biopharma giant AstraZeneca, car manufacturer Aston Martin, international hotel provider IHG Hotels & Resorts, as well as the Welsh and Scottish governments.

UK minister for exports, Gareth Thomas, said: ‘The UK has been a pioneer of innovation for generations by utilising the power of ideas to change the world.

’Our presence at the Osaka Expo will demonstrate the innovation and opportunities for exporting and growth there are in the United Kingdom and how we are open for business.’

Emma Owens, director of culture and new business at WOO architects, said: ‘The Pavilion’s design celebrates Britain at a pivotal moment; our global reputation for innovation and creativity shines through, while the playful façade reflects our innate curiosity and ability to find opportunity in every challenge.

‘This is a space where a rich historic narrative comes alive, and we hope it inspires conversations about British resilience and industriousness for years to come.’

Tomoko Maekawa, managing director for Japan, ES Global, said the pavilion is ‘a wonderful showcase for our modular innovation’, designed by a ‘dynamic’ Japanese-British team.

ES Global’s role in the 2025 pavilion follows the successful delivery of six venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The contractor previously said the same kit of parts used at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will, meanwhile, be used in Osaka for the UK pavilion, alongside new parts.

Previous UK pavilions for World Expos include those by Heatherwick Studio, Wolfgang Buttress and BDP’s UK pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo, which was awarded the event’s ‘best in show’ prize.

Source: The Architects Journal