Rising from Yumeshima —the “Island of Dreams” in Osaka Bay— the pavilion emerges as a luminous landmark, clad in a skin of pentagonal modules that repeat in rhythmic harmony. Its structure, conceived in timber, not only ensures sustainability but also resonates with the Japanese tradition of building in close dialogue with nature.

Pedras’s design is a geometric wooden landscape that invites visitors to rediscover their bond with the natural world at Expo 2025 Osaka. More than a building, it is an ecological manifesto: a structure that mirrors the intelligence of nature while shaping new possibilities for encounter and reflection within a Sakura-inspired sanctuary.

The Shell proposal is the design of a rigid panel structure supported by computational design and digital fabrication. The starting point is the identification of a pentagonal module found in natural forms such as corals or animal shells. This geometric module is then replicated in space according to the needs of the construction and in communication with the facades that can be observed from the interior. For both, the context is mixed with activity and form, the interior finishes provide the qualities are combined with natural materials and fits well with the place. Also, it explores the possible combinations of this module and the artistic shadows that it reflects through its holes.
The Pavilion will feature several multi-sensory installations that offer guests a “Forest of Tranquillity”. It will introduce visitors to ‘Design the society of the future for our lives”’, who come from around the world and are contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future into curating the problems use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and employment, while preserving ecosystem health.
It aims to strengthen those bonds by integrating the qualities of the living into the design and the making process of public structures.
 

Interior Views © GemStones Architecture / Ines J. Pedras 

“Biomateriality and textures that bridge disciplines, where the variety of grains and pleated surfaces generate distinctive identities.”

Section Views © GemStones Architecture / Ines J. Pedras 

During the development phase, the discovery of a highly versatile module proved essential, not only reducing design costs but also enabling limitless adaptability. Structures of different shapes and scales can be created without the need to start from scratch, as all possible configurations emerge from this single system. The pavilion can be dismantled and reassembled for new uses, maintaining its integrity whether preserved in its original form or transformed into new ones.

The elements and materials are conceived for circularity: they can be easily recovered, reused, and recycled without generating further pollution —a fundamental prerogative of sustainable architecture. Each component is designed for assembly and subsequent disassembly, ensuring a responsible life cycle.

The main entrance is located on the northern side of the Pavilion World, within the “Connecting Lives” thematic area. Here, the values of unpredictability, self-sufficiency, and continuous growth —qualities inherent in living systems and nature— acquire architectural expression. This approach redefines how we conceive and construct our urban environments, fostering a more respectful and equitable dialogue between humanity and nature, and laying the foundation for a profound shift in the way we inhabit the world.

Shell of Light
EXPO OSAKA 2025
Name: Shell of Light 2025 Architect: Ines J. Pedras Expo Osaka 2025 Author site: inesjpedras.com
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