The pavilion, designed by Foster + Partners, is organized around the Saudi Courtyard, the heart of the project, creating tranquil spaces that facilitate reflection during the day and transforming into a performance space at night. Visitors enter the pavilion through the northern esplanade, crossing an area of native Saudi Arabian flora. This leads them to the "village," a collection of volumes that create winding streets leading to a succession of immersive spaces, a tribute to Saudi Arabia's architectural heritage.
The Pavilion was built to meet the highest level of the Japanese sustainable building classification system (CASBEE S). Therefore, it was constructed with low-carbon materials and designed to be as lightweight as possible, reducing the amount of concrete used for the foundation. The structure is seamless, with precast reinforced concrete slabs on steel beams. The Pavilion's façade is composed of a lightweight system of Saudi stone, which can be removed and replaced as needed. The building's layout was designed to allow the westerly wind to circulate through the streets and provide cooling, while in the winter months, the landscaped esplanade serves as a shield from the strong northern winds.
KSA Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka by Foster + Partners. Photograph by Nigel Young.
Project description by Foster + Partners
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka has opened to the public. Designed by Foster + Partners and located on the Yumeshima waterfront, the Pavilion creates a spatial experience that echoes the exploration of Saudi Arabian towns and cities, while providing a setting for immersive engagement that connects visitors with the undiscovered wonders of the Kingdom.
The highly sustainable and inclusive Pavilion has been designed with its legacy in mind as the project aims to achieve the Japanese green building rating system’s highest level (CASBEE S) and will be net zero operational carbon.
Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “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. 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.”
Visitors enter the Pavilion through the forecourt, planted with native Saudi Arabian flora, and travel through narrow streets that lead to the Saudi Courtyard, which is the beating heart of the scheme. The Courtyard allows for moments of quiet reflection during the day and transforms into a venue for performances and events at night. From here, visitors are invited to explore a ‘village’ of meandering streets, with windows and doorways into a series of immersive spaces, designed in close collaboration with Journey (59 Productions and Squint/Opera). The project honours the Saudi’s architectural heritage, evokes a sense of place, and provides visitors with a glimpse into the daily life and urban fabric of the Kingdom’s streets.
Tony Miki, Partner, Foster + Partners, added: “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. 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.”
Leo Warner, Director of Journey, said: “The unique partnership with Foster + Partners, whereby our team were embedded with the master architecture practice from the very start to the very end, enabled a unique way of conceiving and delivering a pavilion that both platforms the people of Saudi Arabia to tell their own story and delivers a unique approach to nation-branding in an Expo environment. It was their vision, openness and collaborative methodology that facilitated this unique partnership.”
The Saudi Pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages. The practice’s design developed these concepts and has been carefully crafted using computational fluid dynamics simulations, to allow cool winds from the west into the streets during the height of summer. In the cooler months of April and October, the landscaped forecourt acts as a barrier to protect the pavilion from harsher northerly winds.
Sustainability
- The Saudi Pavilion is the first temporary structure to receive the WELL Health and Safety Rating (HSR) certification.
- It is made from low carbon materials and designed in line with the Saudi Green Initiative.
- The Saudi Pavilion uses energy saving luminaires and incorporates rooftop photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity.
- It is designed to be as lightweight as possible, to minimise the amount of concrete for the foundations.
- An innovative, jointless DfMA-based (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) structural system incorporates a steel moment frame and precast reinforced concrete slabs on steel beams, balancing ductile design for buildings in high-seismic zones with fast construction and quality control.
- 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. It has been designed and manufactured to give the appearance of permanence.
Inclusive design
- A ramped entrance accommodates the site's gradient and provides a single entryway for all visitors.
- The sunken stage at its centre is fully retractable and can be raised to ground level, providing equitable participation for all performers.
- Wheelchair-accessible spaces are thoughtfully integrated amongst audience seating, so that everyone can enjoy performances together.
- The restaurant features innovative seating areas, which are at different levels to provide a range of seating options.
- The restaurant’s WC includes a ceiling track hoist, supporting dignified and independent movement for those who require additional physical assistance. This is one of the first facilities of its kind in Japan.
- A calm room aligns with neuro-inclusion principles and provides a quiet space for visitors who may need to take a break from sensory stimulation.
- All signage is in Japanese Braille, as well as written Japanese and English.
