The UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, designed by WOO Architects, showcases British innovations that have changed the world. The pavilion’s design blends heritage with cutting-edge elements, capturing the Expo’s theme “Come Build the Future.” Situated in a prime location overlooking the water plaza, the pavilion features a welcoming atmosphere with terraces offering panoramic views of the lagoon.
The pavilion’s facade features a powder-coated aluminum design with a parametric pattern that forms a dynamic, pixelated effect. The articulated block pattern of folded perforated panels subtly shifts in appearance throughout the day as light interacts with its surface. After dark, the building transforms, with light animating the perforated facade to reveal the Union Jack flag behind it. The design takes inspiration from the Industrial Revolution and the textile industries that fueled innovations in both the UK and Japan.
The pavilion is designed with future use in mind, featuring a fully relocatable and efficient modular grid structure that will be repurposed after the event, reducing waste and supporting a circular economy. The interior design includes galleries, gift shops, conference spaces, and a terrace bar, brought together with a harmonious and refined design language.
Emma Owens, Director, WOO, said, “The pavilion’s design celebrates Britain at a pivotal moment; our global reputation for innovation and creativity shines through, while the playful facade reflects our innate curiosity and ability to find opportunity in every challenge.”
Carolyn Davidson, Commissioner General for Expo 2025, UK, said, “From the creation of the power loom to the invention of the world’s first computer, the UK’s rich history of innovation and invention has provided the world with ideas and products we can’t live without for hundreds of years.”
