The Luxembourg national pavilion, designed by Luxembourg-based office STDM architectes urbanistes in collaboration with Japanese office MIKAN, with the concept of "Doki-Doki –The Luxembourg Heartbeat," has just opened its doors at the Osaka 2025 World Expo. The pavilion takes its name from the Japanese term for heartbeat, aiming to express joy and enthusiasm while strengthening the connection between the two countries. It also strives to offer visitors a chance to discover the cultural richness of Luxembourg and its multifaceted identity.
The pavilion's layout is composed of various volumes based on modular design. The disposition of volumes creates an exploratory journey through the national exhibition. A large stretched canvas serves multiple roles, both in creating a protected environment and in communication with the public, as it aims to recreate the rhythm of Luxembourg life. The exhibition aims to become a daily show for visitors, which will bring life to the scenography of the volumes.
The pavilion's main structure is composed of four primary elements. First, mega blocks made of concrete serve as the foundation, offering ease of assembly and disassembly compared to traditional cast concrete. These blocks provide a stable base while ensuring minimal waste during construction and deconstruction. Second, rigid steel frames are interconnected and stabilized with concrete blocks, combining strength with flexibility for future reuse. The lightweight membrane roof, a high-performance design, highlights the "reduce" principle in the circular economy by fulfilling multiple functions with minimal material usage, thereby reducing waste. Finally, the exterior walls feature cladding made of local standard formwork panels arranged in scales, secured with horizontal metal cross-members, allowing for reuse after the exhibition.
Central to the pavilion is the theme of "Uniqueness – Diversity – Territory." The artificial landscape, created through adaptable volumes, generates engaging outdoor spaces. The journey through the pavilion mirrors Luxembourg's characteristic landscapes while offering a peek into its culture and heritage. By using modular designs, the pavilion also embodies principles of circularity, as its elements can be easily disassembled and repurposed.
According to the architects, the Luxembourg pavilion at the Osaka 2025 World Exhibition serves as a modest manifesto of achievable possibilities within the principles of a circular economy. It underscores the importance of quality of life and human experience while demonstrating Luxembourg's commitment to sustainable design principles.
World Expos provide a unique platform for countries to present their latest advancements, cultural heritage, and visions for the future. The recently opened event continues this tradition by highlighting contributions from around 500 participants from 150 countries. Titled "Austria. Composing the Future," the Austria pavilion, designed by BWM Designers & Architects, reimagines the expo's theme, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," through a music lens, suggesting a future that is not only designed but also composed. The Swiss Pavilion, located next to the Austria national pavilion, is designed by Manuel Herz Architekten and explores lightweight materials.
We invite you to check out ArchDaily's comprehensive coverage of the Expo Osaka 2025.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 23, 2024, and updated on April 21, 2025, following the official opening.
