The Spanish Pavilion at the Expo Osaka 2025 is designed by the architecture and design practices Néstor Montenegro (EXTUDIO), Enorme Studio, and Smart and Green Design. This comes after being selected in the public competition organized by the Spanish Cultural Action (AC / E), the institution responsible for representing the country in Universal and International Expositions. Located in the northern section of the 65-hectare Pavilion World, within the thematic area of Connecting Lives, the pavilion highlights the key concepts of Oceand and Sun, Sustainability and Circularity, and Craftsmanship Knowledge. The exhibition will be open throughout the event, until October 13, 2025.
The pavilion embraces the theme titled "The Kuroshio Current," paying homage to one of the "secrets" of Spanish navigation, whose existence has endured throughout the centuries. This current, which has forged a valuable cultural and commercial link between continents, serves as inspiration for a comprehensive experience that unites Spain and Japan. Like the ocean, the Pavilion stands out for its circular approach, using natural, sustainable, and environmentally low-impact materials, including those derived from reuse and recycling processes.
The design of the Spanish Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 has been selected by the Board of Directors of AC/E (Spanish Cultural Action), following the recommendation of a jury presided over by Juan Luis Gordo and composed of 10 experts. The jury also highlighted the following studios among the top positions: UTE Icaria Atelier SL - Francisco Javier Terrados Cepeda - Fernando Suárez Corchete, UTE B720 - External Reference, UTE Mangado y Asociados - Pablo Menéndez SLU, and UTE Selgascano Arq. - FRPO Rodríguez & Oriol.
Expo Osaka 2025, under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," has opened to visitors on April 13, 2025, and will conclude on October 13, 2025. Osaka, Japan, was chosen to host Expo 2025 by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Brazil has also announced that its pavilion will be created by Studio MK27, with a significant focus on Brazil's sustainability initiatives.The Japan Pavilion, designed by Nikken Sekkei Ltd., centers on the theme "Between Lives," emphasizing cycles of transformation that shape life across plants, animals, and societies. The Bahrain Pavilion, designed by Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh, features a wooden structure cooled by coastal winds, making it one of the most sustainable buildings at the Expo. Meanwhile, LAVA Architects' German Pavilion brings to life the theme of the circular economy.
We invite you to check out ArchDaily's comprehensive coverage of the Expo Osaka 2025.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on August 11, 2023, and updated on June 10, 2025, to include photographs of the exhibit.
