The Design Labo, a Japanese architecture studio, has unveiled a striking shell-shaped pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka that draws its inspiration from the spiral form of prehistoric marine mollusks. The Pasona Natureverse Pavilion, designed for staffing company Pasona Group, features two interconnected shell-like structures housing interactive exhibition spaces focused on physical, mental, and social health themes.
The pavilion's distinctive design is modeled after the spiraling shell of an ammonite, an ancient marine creature that lived millions of years ago. CEO Satoshi Itasaka explained that this choice represents "the connection between humans and nature," emphasizing how coiled shells have remained virtually unchanged for approximately 400 million years. "Having survived repeated mass extinctions without being eliminated, they may represent a 'completed form' of life," Itasaka told design publication Dezeen.
The 43-meter-wide structure showcases innovative construction techniques, featuring a ball-jointed steel framework covered with a stretched synthetic white membrane. This design approach ensures the pavilion can be easily dismantled after the expo concludes, allowing for its permanent relocation to Awaji Island, where it will serve as a cultural center. The main pavilion is accompanied by a smaller conch-shaped structure topped with a sculpture of NEO Astro Boy, the pavilion's cartoon mascot alongside medical anime character Black Jack.
Inside the pavilion, visitors encounter three distinct exhibition zones titled "History of Life," "Body and Mind," and "Bonds." Each area features cutting-edge interactive and digital displays, including a tree-shaped sculpture depicting evolutionary history and a laboratory-grown heart created through advanced biomaterials and bioengineering techniques. The spiral circulation route allows efficient visitor flow while taking advantage of ceiling heights reaching up to 16 meters.
The pavilion incorporates sustainable design elements, including a water-based cooling system that coats the structure's exterior with a thin water film to reduce air conditioning needs. The spiral form serves a dual purpose by collecting and recirculating both this cooling water and rainwater for reuse as gray water. At night, the pavilion transforms into a luminous spectacle with color-changing LED strips along the shell's ridges and projected light effects.
Itasaka emphasized the functional beauty of the biomimetic design, noting that "biomimetic forms are not only structurally stable but also inherently beautiful." Within the grand interior volume, visitors experience dynamic moving LED boxes, observe hearts created from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and explore the microscopic world of soil organisms through exhibits that combine educational value with engaging surprises.
Expo 2025 Osaka, which runs until October 13, 2025, features numerous pavilions representing both participating nations and private companies. Other notable structures include the USA Pavilion by Trahan Architects, housed within a translucent cube, and a spiral timber and glass ramp designed by Apropos Architects for the Czech Republic. The Design Labo's shell-inspired pavilion stands as a testament to how natural forms can inspire innovative architectural solutions that bridge the gap between human creativity and environmental consciousness.
