Foster + Partners has imagined a village-like Saudi Arabia Pavilion with meandering streets at Expo 2025 Osaka. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka is open to the public in Osaka, Japan. 

The pavilion features angular buildings that form winding streets between them. This project draws inspiration from Saudi Arabian culture, highlighting its vibrant streetscapes and stunning natural landscapes.

The Pavilion, which was designed by Foster + Partners and is situated on the Yumeshima waterfront, offers a setting for immersive engagement that introduces visitors to the Kingdom's hidden treasures while creating a spatial experience that mirrors the discovery of Saudi Arabian towns and cities.

The landscaped forecourt acts as a barrier to protect the pavilion from harsher northerly winds

As the project achieves the highest level of the Japanese green building grading system (CASBEE S) and will be net zero operational emissions, the highly sustainable and inclusive Pavilion was created with its legacy in mind.

Visitors are invited to explore a ‘village’ of meandering streets, with windows and doorways into a series of immersive spaces

"An epic journey of new discovery"

"We are delighted to see the Saudi Pavilion open to the public and ready to welcome its first visitors on an epic journey of new discovery," said Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners.

"The project is a celebration of Saudi Arabian culture, evoking the wonderful streetscapes and captivating natural landscapes that define the Kingdom."

"Every element has been carefully considered to create a one-of-a- kind experience that is highly sustainable and accessible to everyone," Fox added.

The central courtyard allows for moments of quiet reflection during the day

Through the forecourt, which is filled with native Saudi Arabian plants, visitors enter the Pavilion. They then proceed down winding walkways to the Saudi Courtyard, the focal point of the design. 

The Courtyard serves as a space for concerts and performances at night and provides opportunities for peaceful contemplation during the day. 

A "village" of winding streets with windows and doorways leading into a number of immersive areas created in close cooperation with Journey - which includes 59 Productions and Squint/Opera - is then open for visitors to explore. 

The pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages

Journey was formed by uniting the award-winning studios ICRAVE, Squint/Opera, 59 and VMI Studio.

In addition to honoring Saudi Arabia's architectural legacy, the project gives tourists a sense of location and gives them a look at the daily activities and urban fabric of the Kingdom's streets.

The pavilion creates a spatial experience that echoes the exploration of Saudi Arabian towns and cities

"It create" meaningful connections"

"The Saudi Pavilion is also designed to create meaningful connections between the visiting public and Saudi Arabia’s incredible artists and musicians. By engaging all of the senses, the space allows visitors to experience the national transformation of Saudi Arabia," said Tony Miki, Partner, Foster + Partners. 

"It is its own urban microcosm that carefully balances tradition and heritage with modern technologies which is shaping the Kingdom’s future. We have worked closely with Journey to ensure that the immersive digital content is holistically integrated within the architectural design," Miki added.

The massing of the Saudi Pavilion has elements of the natural forms of old Saudi villages. These ideas were developed in the practice's design, which was meticulously created using computational fluid dynamics models to let cool westerly winds enter the streets during the hottest part of the summer. 

The façade is made from a lightweight Saudi stone composite system and designed to be efficiently deconstructed and reassembled, or completely reconfigured, to meet different requirements in a future location

The manicured courtyard serves as a barrier to shield the pavilion from stronger northerly breezes during the cooler months of April and October.

The Saudi Pavilion has made history as the first temporary structure to receive the WELL Health and Safety Rating (HSR) certification. This achievement underscores its commitment to health and safety standards while showcasing innovative design principles. 

Constructed from low carbon materials, the pavilion aligns with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative, emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. Its design incorporates energy-saving luminaires and rooftop photovoltaic technologies that harness solar energy, further enhancing its eco-friendly credentials.

Visitors are invited to explore a ‘village’ of meandering streets, with windows and doorways into a series of immersive spaces

In striving for minimal environmental impact, the Saudi Pavilion is engineered to be as lightweight as possible. This approach reduces the amount of concrete required for its foundations, reflecting a commitment to sustainable construction practices. 

The pavilion's innovative structural system relies on a jointless DfMA-based (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) design, which integrates a steel moment frame with precast reinforced concrete slabs supported by steel beams. This configuration not only adheres to ductile design principles suitable for high-seismic zones but also facilitates rapid construction and stringent quality control.

The exterior of the Saudi Pavilion features a lightweight composite system made from Saudi stone, designed with an emphasis on efficiently deconstructing and reassembling. This allows the structure to be completely reconfigured to meet varying requirements at different future locations. 

Immersive spaces have been designed in close collaboration with Journey (59 Productions and Squint/Opera)

While designed for flexibility, the facade also creates an impression of permanence, blending functionality with aesthetic appeal. Overall, the pavilion stands as a testament to modern architectural advancements that prioritize sustainability, safety, and adaptability.

The design is shaped through inclusive design principles. The site features a thoughtfully designed ramped entrance that accommodates its gradient, providing a single entryway for all visitors. At the center, a sunken stage is fully retractable, allowing it to be raised to ground level for equitable participation among performers. 

The courtyard transforms into a venue for performances and events at night

Wheelchair-accessible spaces are integrated into the audience seating, ensuring everyone can enjoy performances together. 

The restaurant offers innovative seating areas at various levels to enhance the dining experience, and its restrooms include a ceiling track hoist, promoting dignified and independent movement for individuals needing physical assistance—making it one of the first facilities of its kind in Japan.

Immersive spaces have been designed in close collaboration with Journey (59 Productions and Squint/Opera)

Additionally, a calm room designed with neuro-inclusion principles provides a quiet space for visitors needing a break from sensory stimulation. 

All signage throughout the facility is presented in Japanese Braille, along with written Japanese and English, ensuring accessibility for a diverse audience.

The pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages

Masterplan

Level 1 plan

Level 2 plan

Roof level plan

Long and short sections

The six-month Osaka Expo 2025 will take place on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay from April 13 to October 13, 2025.

Recently, Foster + Partners unveiled design for a stadium for Manchester United club that is designed to be "outward-looking." In addition, the firm revealed plans for a masterplan for a 38-hectare site at the heart of Constanța, a port city in the Dobrogea historical region of Romania.

Project facts

Project name: KSA Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka

Architects: Foster + Partners

Location: Osaka, Japan

Client: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Culture

Completion date: 2025

Site area: 3,505m2

Total floor area: 3,542.54m2

Number of floors: 2

Height: 16.66m / Length: 103.7m / Width: 34.06m

Capacity: 23,100 visitors per day

Local architect: Azusa Sekkei

Exhibition designer: 59 Productions, Squint Opera

Foster + Partners design team: Norman Foster, Luke Fox, Tony Miki, Nick Haddock, Juan Zhang, Farah Caswell, Wolfgang Muller, Jiannan Luo, Xiaonian Duan, Yue-Qi Hou, Mingchen Liu, Luigi Rodrigues Durando,Chi Yen Fu, Xiaomin Zhang, Ami Matsumoto, Natasha Rieffel, Alan Cheng, Ken Ho, Nadia Saki, Ioanna Nika, Hang Sia, Lorenzo Luzzi, Sarah Abiad, Caio Ribeiro, Jiahao Syu, Jordan Bizzell, Pierre Zebouni.

Main contractor: RIMOND Japan

Mechanical engineers: Azusa Sekkei

Cost consultant: Turner & Townsend

Landscape consultant: Foster + Partners

Lighting consultant: Foster + Partners

Façade consultant: Front

Graphics & Wayfinding Designer: Bright Dot Design

Food & Beverage Consultant: Humble Arnold

People Moving Strategy Consultant: Buro Happold

Construction Project Manager: Black Engineering

All images © Nigel Young courtesy of Foster + Partners.

All drawings © Foster + Partners.

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Foster + Partners Osaka Expo pavilion