The Kingdom of Bahrain's Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has been awarded the prestigious Gold Award for Best Architecture and Landscape in the self-built pavilions under 1,500 square meters category. Designed by renowned Lebanese-French architect Lina Ghotmeh and her firm Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, the pavilion titled "Connecting Seas" received this honor from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which recognizes architectural excellence in spatial design, creativity, and sustainability.
The official award ceremony took place in Osaka, Japan, with commissioners general and representatives from participating nations in attendance. This recognition marks a significant achievement for Bahrain, representing the country's fourth participation in a World Expo and demonstrating its ongoing commitment to expressing national identity through innovative architecture and meaningful cultural dialogue.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and Commissioner General of the Bahrain Pavilion, expressed immense pride in receiving this international recognition. "This recognition reflects Bahrain's role as a creative hub for architecture and culture in the region," he stated. "The Pavilion is a testament to sustainable design and offers a profound visitor experience, immersing audiences in Bahrain's rich history and cultural depth." He emphasized that the award represents the collective effort of Team Bahrain in bringing the Kingdom's vision to life on the global stage.
The architectural design, led by Lina Ghotmeh, draws profound inspiration from Bahrain's rich maritime heritage, specifically referencing the traditional dhow boats that once defined the country's historic shipbuilding industry. The pavilion is constructed primarily from timber with an outer aluminum skin, creatively reinterpreting historical boat-building techniques into a contemporary architectural language that speaks to both tradition and modernity.
Sustainability stands at the core of the pavilion's design philosophy. The structure is engineered to be completely demountable and recyclable, incorporating innovative sustainable strategies such as passive ventilation systems and natural cooling mechanisms that harness the sea breeze. This approach significantly minimizes the need for energy-intensive mechanical systems, demonstrating how architecture can work harmoniously with natural environmental conditions.
Strategically situated in the "Empowering Lives" zone of Expo 2025 Osaka, the pavilion occupies 995 square meters and rises impressively to 13.7 meters across four distinct levels. Its positioning overlooks the sea, establishing a direct and meaningful relationship between its architectural form, material choices, and coastal context. This careful siting reinforces the pavilion's central theme of maritime connectivity.
The interior exhibition experience, developed through collaboration with Shepherd Studio under Ghotmeh's artistic direction, offers visitors a comprehensive multi-sensory journey exploring Bahrain's historic role as a vital maritime crossroads in the Gulf region. The exhibition delves deep into themes of connectivity through contributions from notable artists and researchers, including Sissel Tolaas, Hassan Hujairi, and La Méduse, addressing diverse narratives of trade, traditional crafts, pearling heritage, and ecological relationships.
The Bahrain Pavilion's exhibition perfectly aligned with Expo 2025 Osaka's central theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." As the global showcase concluded on October 13, 2025, it brought together an impressive and diverse array of national pavilions, each reflecting the innovative visions and cultural perspectives of their respective countries. The architectural dialogue at this expo featured contributions from world-renowned firms including Coldplay and CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati for the French Pavilion, Trahan Architects for the USA Pavilion, Kengo Kuma & Associates for the Portugal Pavilion, Atelier Brückner for the Uzbekistan Pavilion, and Foster + Partners, who designed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, among many other distinguished participants.
This gold award recognition not only celebrates the exceptional design achievement of Lina Ghotmeh and her team but also highlights Bahrain's growing influence in contemporary architecture and cultural expression on the international stage. The pavilion serves as a powerful example of how traditional cultural elements can be thoughtfully integrated with modern sustainable design principles to create meaningful architectural experiences that resonate with global audiences while maintaining strong cultural identity.
