Amid global turmoil and tariff wars, the world gathers in Osaka, Japan, at Expo 2025 to see the latest innovations in technology, agriculture, and more. More than 160 countries are represented in the event which invites architects to design temporary structures. Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, called Expo 2025 a hopeful “testing ground for future society.” Kengo Kuma, Manuel Herz, Lina Ghotmeh, Sou Fujimoto, Foster + Partners, Shigeru Ban, OMA*AMO, and others are among the architects participating in Expo 2025. AN rounded up 20 must see pavilions at the event. Among the designs are structures with sweeping roof canopies, massive digital screens, and showcases of traditional crafting practices. The Grand Ring | Sou Fujimoto Sou Fujimoto’s contribution to Expo 2025 has stolen the show. The Grand Ring was recently recognized by Guinness World Records as planet earth’s “largest wooden architectural structure,” made with traditional joinery methods. The Japan Pavilion (Courtesy Japan Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Trade) Japan Pavilion | Nikken Sekkei Miwa Negoro had the honor of curating the Japan Pavilion, designed by Nikken Sekkai. The design uses staggered cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, creating an accordion-like affect. The USA Pavilion (© Hufton + Crow) Looking, After the Fires is an artwork completed by Spiegel Aihara Workshop and Tamotsu Teshima Architect. (Tomoyuki Kusunose) USA Pavilion | Trahan Architects Trahan Architects described its design for the USA Pavilion as “a beacon for the country, celebrating the best of American ideas on the world stage.” It consists of a large, seemingly floating cube inspired by Japanese torii gates. One courtyard contains Looking, After the Fires, an artwork completed by Spiegel Aihara Workshop (SAW) and Tamotsu Teshima Architect. The project is the culmination of SAW’s US-Japan Creative Artists Fellowship with the Japan-US Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Qatar Pavilion exterior (Iwan Baan/Courtesy Qatar Museums) Qatar Pavilion interior view (Iwan Baan/Courtesy Qatar Museums Qatar Pavilion | Kengo Kuma | OMA*AMO Kengo Kuma Associates designed the Qatar Pavilion’s exterior, and OMA*AMO was responsible for exhibition design. It tells a story about Qatari commerce and industry. The pavilion’s form is inspired by dhow, the traditional sailing vessel of Qatar and its region. The Ireland Pavilion (GNet 3D) Ireland Pavilion | Government of Ireland Office of Public Works | Joseph Walsh A rich Ireland-Japan dialogue on arts and crafts informs the Irish Pavilion at Expo 2025 by Government of Ireland architects from the Office of Public Works, together with Joseph Walsh Studio. Walsh created an abstracted Celtic spiral that sits out front of the Pavilion. It’s presented in collaboration with Kanata Gallery. The Uzbekistan Pavilion (Atelier Brückner/Courtesy ACDF) Uzbekistan Pavilion | Atelier Brückner Stuttgart-based Atelier Brückner was awarded the German Design GOLD Award for the Uzbekistan Pavilion, commissioned by the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Foundation. AN met with Atelier Brückner this past March in Tashkent to learn about the project, and also the important preservation work underway in the Central Asian capital city. The Czech Pavilion (BoysPlayNice) Czech Pavilion | Apropos Architects The Czech Pavilion’s design is meant to reflect the idea of life energy and continuous development, Apropos Architects said. Its translucent form, namely the glass spiral, hearkens back to the Czech Pavilion design in Japan for Expo 1970. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion (Nigel Young/Courtesy Foster + Partners) Saudi Arabia Pavilion | Foster + Partners A series of separate, irregular volumes make up the Saudi Arabia Pavilion by Foster + Partners. The geometries and massings, the architects said, recall the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages. The Austria Pavilion (Peter Schilling/Courtesy Expo Austria) Austrian Pavilion | BWM Designers & Architects The Austrian Pavilion and its helical form has echoes of Tatlin’s Tower. The project by BWM Designers & Architects neighbors the Colombia Pavilion. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Colombia Expo 2025 Osaka (@colombiaexpo) Colombia Pavilion | Marivel Villa Arquitectos and Studio Cardenas Conscious Design The project by Marivel Villa Arquitectos and Studio Cardenas Conscious Design takes cues from Colombia’s terrain, namely its snow- capped peaks to rivers and seas, water weaves through Colombia’s regions, the architects said. The France Pavilion (Julien Lanoo) France Pavilion | Coldefy & Associés and Carlo Ratti Associati Carlo Ratti, 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale chief curator, teamed up with Coldefy & Associés to deliver the French Pavilion. Titled Theatre of Life, the Pavilion is defined by its central circular stair, left open to the elements. The Bahrain Pavilion (Iwan Baan) Bahrain Pavilion | Lina Ghotmeh Lina Ghotmeh, fresh off her landmark competition win to design a new wing at the British Museum, told a story about Bahrain’s ports in her contribution. The design, in plan, is shaped like a vessel, and uses impressive wood joinery on the exterior. The Swiss Pavilion (FDFA/Presence Switzerland) Swiss Pavilion | Manuel Herz Manuel Herz’s design for the Swiss Pavilion would make Buckminster Fuller blush. It features multiple geodesic domes that overlap with one another to deliver a funk retro exterior. Egypt Pavilion | Ahmad Hilal and Mohamed Elsarif Ahmad Hilal and Mohamed Elsarif teamed up to design the Egypt Pavilion. The duo cooked up a truncated white pyramid that hovers over a smaller masonry structure. The Netherlands Pavilion (AND BV & Plomp) The Netherlands Pavilion | RAU Architects The Netherlands Pavilion by RAU Architects is another exploration of platonic forms, much like the Egypt Pavilion. There, a large glowing orb dominates a rectangular volume overlooking a generous plaza. The Germany Pavilion (Hotaka Matsumara/Courtesy German Expo Pavilion) Germany Pavilion | LAVA Akin to the Saudi Arabia Pavilion by Foster + Partners, LAVA broke up the Germany Pavilion into multiple volumes, albeit curving ones topped with green roofs. The Indonesia Pavilion (Courtesy Fujiya) Indonesia Pavilion | Fujiya Artworks by Mang Moel, Nasirun, Naufal Abshar, and Nyoman Nuarta adorn the Indonesia Pavilion’s interior designed by Fujiya. The architecture’s goal was to tell a story about Indonesia’s biodiversity. Malta Pavilion | Wevr Wevr’s mission driving its contribution to Expo 2025 was bringing Malta’s story to life using AI. The architects were tasked with distilling 8,000 years of resilience, culture, and ambition into an unforgettable moment, they said. The Luxembourg Pavilion (Ondrej Piry) Luxembourg Pavilion | STDM architectes urbanistes STDM architectes urbanistes designed an elaborate roof canopy that shades the Luxembourg Pavilion and the series of rectangular volumes comprising it. The Kuwait Pavilion (AETOSWire) Kuwait Pavilion | LAVA Not only did LAVA design the Germany Pavilion, it also created the Kuwait Pavilion. Architects call their scheme Visionary Lighthouse. The interior exhibition speaks to a major national development project underway today, New Kuwait 2035. The Philippines Pavilion (Ed Simon) Philippines Pavilion detail (Ed Simon) Philippines Pavilion | Carlo Calma Carlo Calma told a story about Filipino weaving methods in his design for the pavilion. Expo 2025 is open through October 13.