LOCATION
Osaka, Kansai, Japan
CLIENT
Polish Investment and Trade Agency
STATUS
On going
YEAR
2023
TEAM
Project phase: Komy studio (Local Architect), Jun Sato Structural Engineers (structure engineer), Tomoaki Masukawa (mechanical), Atelier Fuuchi (landscape), Amber (lightinng)
Competition phase: Jeremy Amsler (structure), Ito Architecture Associates (Local Architect)
The upcoming World Expo, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, will take place in Osaka, Japan. This event is an opportunity for architects from all over the world to interpret in a creative way the most difficult challenges that contemporary society faces. Poland’s participation in the Expo is an excellent opportunity for broad promotion of the country, with a particular emphasis on the development of trade and investment cooperation with Japan.
“World exhibitions had always served a double function: on the one hand, to present the collective achievements of mankind, and on the other, to reinforce national identities by offering a setting for the celebration of individual cultures. But in the new postwar climate, the nature of these exhibitions changed: no longer content with showcasing goods and technology, they aspired to demonstrate cultural progress in a broader sense, encouraging exchange and mutual understanding among nations. Exhibitions became a means for the world to measure its own progress, but they also demonstrated an internationalist urge to transcend individual identities and build a shared future.”
Rem Koolhaas, Project Japan. Metabolism Talks
The genesis of the project arises from the fundamental inspiration in the geometric figure of the spiral. A figure that has fascinated humanity so much and that appears recurrently in nature in all its scales: from proteins to galaxies. How does this geometry represent for us the Polish identity and its inherent innovative spirit? The limits of the Polish territory do not prevent its knowledge and identity from extending far, influencing distant areas; and attracting knowledge from them to its central core
The dynamic spiral of curved walls with its varying heights corresponds to different scales and viewpoints. From afar, its highest surfaces with the name of the country allow easy identification of the pavilion.
From a slightly closer distance, the lower elevations give the entire structure a more human and intimate scale, inviting further exploration. Up close, the smooth surface of the wooden modules and internal lighting create more intimate spaces.
The use of modular wooden elements showcases the expertise and savoir faire of Japanese wood craftsmen. The intricate details and patterns on the wooden surfaces not only provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance but also serve as a nod to Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
Additionally, the repetition of a simple element in the modular design allows for the building process to be optimized and completed efficiently, reducing construction time and costs.
