New Construction Images Shared of World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai’s Massive Timber Structure

Sou Fujimoto Architects has shared new construction images of the forthcoming World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai’s The Grand Roof circular wooden container structure, according to a profile by Archinect (4-1-24). The enormous structure is 1,969 feet (600 meters) in diameter and will serve as the main circulatory route for the exhibition, which includes 161 total participating countries/locations.

Fujimoto’s team says their design is meant to evoke a sense of “Unity in Diversity” and takes the Stage of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto and other historic examples of Japanese timber architecture as its inspiration.

Once complete, it will stand as one of the world’s largest wooden buildings, with a horizontal projected area equivalent to 646,000 square feet (60,000 square meters).

According to Archinect, Japan has seen a late influx of 36 new planning applications for mass timber structures in concert with the national government’s drive to reduce carbon emissions by 46% by 2030.