Poland's pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, designed by interplay architects in collaboration with komy studio, presents a striking architectural interpretation of the spiral form that celebrates both Polish innovation and Japanese craftsmanship. The 1,137-square-meter cultural pavilion, completed in 2025, stands as a testament to international collaboration and sustainable design principles.
The architectural concept draws inspiration from the geometry of the spiral, a shape that has fascinated humanity across cultures and appears throughout nature at every scale, from protein molecules to galactic structures. According to the architects, this spiral form represents Poland's inherent spirit of innovation and how ideas transcend geographical boundaries, spreading far beyond national borders while allowing knowledge gained abroad to return to the gravitational center of the nation.
Situated on a prominent corner plot with high visibility, the Polish Pavilion emerges from a spiral layout formed by overlapping curved walls of varying heights. This dynamic, open configuration addresses the need to offer a recognizable image from multiple viewing angles while simultaneously drawing visitors inward through wall extensions that project toward their surroundings, creating an inviting exploration experience.
The spiral geometry serves as more than a formal gesture; it functions as a spatial organizing tool that structures the exhibition sequence and fosters a progressive journey of discovery. Visitors move naturally through different spaces without losing visual contact with the exterior environment, thanks to strategically placed windows that illuminate sections of the journey and guide them toward the building's heart – a concert hall designed as a warm, introspective ellipse.
This central concert hall draws inspiration from Baltic amber, a material symbolic of Poland, and is enclosed by a curtain of golden chains that evoke willow branches, referencing the landscapes that inspired composer Frédéric Chopin. The metallic curtain serves multiple functions: it unifies the space visually, conceals entrances for dramatic effect, and creates an intimate atmosphere that is subtly enhanced through carefully designed lighting systems.
The pavilion exclusively utilizes locally sourced Japanese pine wood for both its structural framework and exterior cladding, capitalizing on the exceptional craftsmanship and savoir-faire of Japanese carpenters. The design references traditional Japanese construction techniques while reinterpreting them through contemporary architectural methods, resulting in a vibrant façade that shifts in appearance throughout the day due to the dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Inside the pavilion, the timber construction provides not only visual warmth but also sensory comfort and even an aromatic presence that enhances the visitor experience. The construction employs a modular logic based exclusively on two types of wooden modules, a strategic approach that ensures flexibility to adapt to the project's complex geometry while maintaining rigorous construction standards necessary to meet the extremely tight deadlines typical of international exposition projects.
Under the compelling slogan "Heritage that drives the future," the project establishes a meaningful dialogue between national identity and local context, between traditional craftsmanship and forms that embrace the future. The pavilion represents a successful fusion of Polish cultural heritage with Japanese architectural expertise, demonstrating how international collaboration can produce innovative solutions that honor both participating cultures while pushing architectural boundaries forward.
