France Pavilion at Osaka World Expo 2025

Designed by French architecture studio Coldefy with Italian design and innovation practice
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, the France Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025 is now open
(until 13 October 2025).

The France Pavilion is envisioned as a ‘theatre of life’, where architecture frames moments
of presence, movement and interaction. Inspired by a mise-en-scène, or stage design and
arrangement, the Pavilion is designed as a fluid sequence of spaces, guiding visitors through
changing perspectives that mirror the rhythms of daily life – the beginning, transition, pause
and departure.

The design draws inspiration from the Japanese legend of Akai Ito, the invisible red thread
connecting destined souls. In a time defined by digital estrangement, the Pavilion reclaims
physical space as a medium for dialogue. A quiet inner garden offers refuge, emphasizing
that encounters with nature are just as vital as those with one another.

Its shifting façade, with 17 metre high fabric veils resembling theatre curtains suspended
down two sides, is in contact with the elements and responds to light and wind. The pathway
through the Pavilion follows a carefully choreographed progression – ascending towards an
exhibition displayed inside, alternating between enclosed and open-air spaces, and
concluding with a return to the wider Expo site.

Constructed with prefabricated and modular elements, the Pavilion embraces a circular
approach, ensuring that its materials can be disassembled and repurposed, reflecting a
vision of architecture that is as adaptable as life itself.

The Pavilion's architectural concept is rooted in theatricality and sensory experience. The
entrance stairway and balcony form a stage, welcoming visitors into an unfolding journey.
Forming part of the building’s façade, the sinuous staircase creates a dialogue between the
inside of the Pavilion and the plaza outside, blurring the boundaries between inside and out,
and providing a sense of welcome and openness to all.

Visitors follow a looping path that takes them through the heart of the exhibition, crossing
through different thematic spaces, then stepping outside into a small garden, before re-
entering the Pavilion and concluding the journey with another outdoor moment. Unlike
traditional linear experiences, this journey, which highlights French savoir-faire or knowhow,
reflects cycles and pulsations, echoing the broader themes of the Pavilion.

Visitors experience the Pavilion through three ‘acts’:
1. 2. Ascent – A sensual staircase winds up to an observation balcony.
Exhibition Journey – Moving inside, they navigate a series of curated spaces,
encountering installations and scenographic elements tied to the Pavilion’s themes.
Garden Interlude – Stepping outside, visitors enter a sensorial landscaped area,
offering a moment of reflection before rejoining the interior spaces.
3. Final Transition – The journey concludes with a transition back to the open air and
the Expo site, reinforcing the rhythmic flow between inside and outside.

The Pavilion is designed with a circular approach, embracing modularity and material reuse.
Its movable curtain façade, beyond being a dynamic aesthetic element, is also designed for
disassembly and repurposing after the event. The Pavilion integrates as many prefabricated
and temporary components as possible to facilitate future disassembly – for example,
container structures are used for the office spaces.

These design choices ensure reduced environmental impact, ease of reconfiguration, and adaptability beyond the Expo. Rather than being a static monument, the Pavilion is an adaptive structure, reflecting the evolving nature of architecture and exhibition spaces in response to contemporary challenges.

Thomas Coldefy, founding partner of Coldefy said: “The France Pavilion invites visitors to
enter the theatre of life. Both actors and spectators in this production, visitors traverse a path
through the Pavilion that is an expression of the symbiosis between humanity and its
environment. It’s an honor to have been chosen to design the France Pavilion, and we truly
believe that the World Expo has the potential to create a moment of reflection – about how
we live, what we value, and how design can shape better futures. Even a brief experience – whether it’s a spatial gesture, a surprising material, or a shared moment – can resonate
deeply.”

Carlo Ratti, founding partner of CRA and Curator of the 19th International Architecture
Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (2025) added: “Infused with a spirit of play, the France
Pavilion is a dynamic, flexible space that sparks unexpected encounters. In an era of
increasing polarization, physical space offers a much-needed antidote. Unlike the digital
realm, it forces us to confront diversity and engage with perspectives that might challenge
our preconceptions. This mirrors the mission of today’s World Expos, as vibrant hubs for
open dialogue and discovery. It’s an honor to bring CRA’s ongoing research to Osaka and
contribute to France's part in this global dialogue – a place that has shaped so much of my
thinking, from studying at the École des Ponts to this moment."

Project Information: France Pavilion, Osaka World Expo 2025
Location: Osaka, Japan
Surface: 3,600 m2 Net Area
Project Cost: 22 M Euros
Programme: Exhibition halls, reception hall, office, shop, café
Environmental Certification: CASBEE
Winning Competition: 2023
Delivery: 2025
Project Owner: COFREX
General Contractor: Rimond

Design Architects
Coldefy
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati

Team
Coldefy: Thomas Coldefy, Isabel Van Haute, Zoltán Neville, Martin Mercier, Marianna Guarino, Léo Akahori, Leonardo Ronchi, Shuai Wang
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati: Carlo Ratti, Andrea Cassi (partner in charge), Ina Sefgjini, Gizem
Veral, Zeynep Kalaycioglu, Jelena Krco, Gabriele Sacchi, Alba Leon Alvarez, Marie Petrault,
Antoine Picon

Partners
Local Architects & Engineers: Yasui Sekkei
Competition Partners: Bollinger + Grohmann (Structural engineers), Coloco (Landscape
architects), Ramboll (Environmental engineers), de_form (Graphics/signage)
Scenographers: Justine Emard, GSM Project