The Osaka World Expo 2025 officially opened on Sunday, April 13, with Spain’s Ambassador to Japan, Íñigo de Palacio, inaugurating the Spain Pavilion alongside José Andrés Torres, Spain’s General Curator for the Spain Pavilion and President of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E). With the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” and artificial intelligence and space exploration as its central pillars, the Expo brings together 160 countries and regions, including Spain, whose pavilion is located in the “Connecting Lives” zone in the northern part of the Grand Ring.
The Spain Pavilion, conceived and designed by UTE Kuroshio Osaka 2025 (Enorme Studio, Smart & Green Design, and Néstor Montenegro), offers visitors a fully immersive experience through an architectural concept designed to blend seamlessly with art, design, gastronomy, and knowledge-sharing. It presents Spain as a nation deeply committed to addressing major global challenges, especially those related to sustainability and circularity.
Visitors' first visual impression comes upon arrival through the nearly horizontal main façade, which features a series of low-impact, prefabricated wooden porticos that create a bright central atrium. Designed by the company Cumella, the façade pays tribute to the ocean and the sun with glazed ceramic in a gradient of blue and yellow, evoking the depths of the sea and the shimmer of sunlight on water.
The pavilion’s furniture for the common areas, reception area, and rest areas comes from Ondarreta. Its tables, chairs, and benches are crafted to balance comfort with minimalist aesthetics, creating inviting gathering spots that evoke the Mediterranean climate and offer a natural link to the central theme of the Expo.
The walls of the restaurant, cocktail bar, store, and VIP areas are lined with panels made from recycled fishing nets, by Gravity Wave. Lightweight and richly textured, these panels are a nod to the circular economy and a deep respect for the sea, filtering light and creating an organic backdrop for visitors.
In the pavilion’s restaurant, designer lighting by LZF sets the tone for a Mediterranean ambiance. Its lamps, featuring soft, organic shapes, hang in clusters above the tables. They help create a warm, inviting atmosphere where light becomes a symbol of well-being and the connection between Spain and Japan.
Until October 13, the Spain Pavilion will host daily performances from a variety of artistic genres, all set within a unique space built from natural, sustainable materials. The performances recount the story of the Kuroshio Current, which represents a historic connection between the two countries. Through its architecture, materials, and elements—including a large LED screen showcasing audiovisual works by contemporary Spanish artists dedicated to sustainability—the pavilion invites visitors on an immersive, multisensory journey that weaves together the richness of Spanish artisanal heritage with global innovation.
