Under the motto "Designing Future Society for Our Lives", the world will be looking to Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to October 13, 2025. Thurgau Expo pavilion construction specialist NUSSLI is responsible for the construction of five national pavilions there: Switzerland, Austria, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Kuwait. "The sophisticated pavilions are a shining example of Swiss engineering and precision and are actively shaping the global dialog about the future of our society," explains Andy Böckli, Group CEO of NUSSLI.
Successful implementation thanks to extensive Expo experience
When implementing the various concepts, NUSSLI had to take into account the general regulations of the host country Japan on the one hand and the different needs of the individual client nations on the other. In doing so, NUSSLI benefited from a particularly broad wealth of experience: The company has been building Expo pavilions since 2000 – over 54 in total to date. "Osaka is the 9th national exhibition at which we are present. Our previous experience has contributed significantly to our ability to successfully master the individual challenges on site. This includes, for example, Japanese building law: as the country is repeatedly hit by severe earthquakes, particularly strict requirements apply with regard to earthquake safety," says Stefan Sekiguchi, COO Special Projects at NUSSLI.
Artificial island – many challenges
As the Expo site is located on the island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, which was artificially filled in especially for the World Expo, there were special challenges to be considered in terms of access, logistics and the load-bearing capacity of the building ground. As a result, the challenging stability of the subsoil meant that the foundations of several pavilions had to be rescheduled at short notice, which was very time-consuming in terms of planning and time. "The current geopolitical situation in the world also had an impact on our processes, as the transit times for transportation by sea and import were not fixed," continues Stefan Sekiguchi.
Design spectacular buildings with certainty
The structural requirements of the various pavilions were as varied as the content concepts. The Swiss presentation "La Suisse Enchantée" focused on reusability: The eye-catching spheres that characterize the pavilion are a modular construction made of recyclable materials. Due to the limited space available at and the lack of a warehouse, deliveries had to be coordinated precisely and in line with requirements. The architecture of Kuwait, whose gigantic free-floating wing-shaped roof construction is particularly challenging, required specific structural precautions to be taken. Austria's pavilion, on the other hand, which showcases the country's musical achievements under the motto "Composing the Future", features a spectacular wooden music band sculpture. This was developed and manufactured in Austria and had to be tailored precisely to the Japanese regulatory requirements. Uzbekistan, which is appearing in Japan as the "Garden of Knowledge", has a mobile show platform in use, for which the correct standard first had to be found in a complex process with the Japanese authorities. Brazil's "Living Laboratory" presentation was based on a standard building provided by the Expo. Targeted interventions such as a customized glass façade turned it into an individual country presentation. Our task was to bring the existing Japanese building together with the planned construction.
Austria Pavilion
The architectural design of the Austrian Pavilion and the general theme come from BMW Designers & Architects. facts and fiction is responsible for the conception and design of the exhibition in collaboration with BMW. NUSSLI is the general contractor.
Swiss Pavilion
NUSSLI is the general contractor responsible for project management and construction. Manuel Herz Architects are responsible for the architecture and spatial concept. BELLPRAT PARTNER are developing the content concept, the exhibition and the media design.
Kuwaiti Pavilion
The NUSSLI Group is the general contractor responsible for the construction of the Kuwaiti Pavilion. LAVA designed the architecture, while insglück was responsible for the content concept and the design of the exhibition. The team was supported by schlaich bergermann partner for the structural design, as well as the Japanese architects Tokuoka Sekkei and the Japanese construction company Mugishima Construction.
Uzbekistan Pavilion
ATELIER BRÜCKNER developed the concept for the Uzbek pavilion and is responsible for the sustainable architecture and exhibition. NUSSLI realized the two-level pavilion.
Brazilian Pavilion
The project is being realized in collaboration with the NOE Group as the main contractor and LC & Partner as supervisor. The interior design is based on a concept by Brazilian director Bia Lessa.
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