Portuguese Pavilion Proposal for Osaka 2025 | Atelier Sergio Rebelo

The Portugal Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka has a direct reference to the floor of our oceans, whose topography is essential for the development of biodiversity. The image of the Portugal Pavilion therefore results from the composition of two elements: the topography - a cork-covered volume that houses the Pavilion's program - evoking underwater mountain ranges, and the overlapping canopy - a seaweed fiber fabric in constant movement by the wind, designed to generate a covered outdoor space.

The visitor's experience is affirmed by the juxtaposition between these two main elements that evoke the image of underwater mountain systems and the seaweed churning on the seabed, establishing a link between the land surface and the maritime environment.

The experience of the building is distinguished by the movement of light in the remaining space between these two environments: the representation is precisely in that void, in that interstitial space generated between the surface and the fabric that levitates over it. The light that passes through the air is filtered by the fabric, reflecting shapes, textures and colors onto the surface of the roof. The interaction between these two complex elements is intended to envelop the empty space - the seabed - and enrich it with “living organisms”.

The Pavilion is intended to evoke the immensity of the seas, while its materialization in cork also highlights, in the background, the areas of Portuguese industry that are aligned with the objectives of the SDGs, in particular the aforementioned SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.