Prepare to be amazed by the incredible Pasona Natureverse Pavilion, a shell-shaped masterpiece that's taking the world by storm! ๐
The Design Labo, a local architecture studio, has drawn inspiration from the ancient seas to create a truly unique structure for Expo 2025 Osaka. Picture this: a spiral-shaped pavilion, modeled after the shell of an ammonite, a prehistoric marine mollusc. CEO Satoshi Itasaka believes this design symbolizes the deep connection between humans and nature, a theme that resonates throughout the Expo.
But here's where it gets controversial... Itasaka suggests that coiled shells, having survived countless mass extinctions, represent a 'completed form' of life. He envisions the pavilion as a place where visitors can experience this connection and the continuity of life itself.
Spanning an impressive 43 meters wide, the Pasona Natureverse Pavilion is designed with sustainability in mind. Its easily demountable steel structure, covered in a synthetic white membrane, will be permanently relocated to Awaji Island after the Expo, serving as a cultural hub.
Alongside the main pavilion is a smaller, conch-like structure, topped with a sculpture of NEO Astro Boy, the pavilion's mascot, accompanied by the beloved medical anime character Black Jack.
The exhibition spaces are divided into three captivating zones: 'History of Life', 'Body and Mind/Bonds', each offering a range of interactive and digital displays. Imagine exploring a tree-shaped sculpture that chronicles the history of evolution or witnessing a lab-grown heart created through cutting-edge biomaterials and bioengineering.
Itasaka explains that the spiral circulation route efficiently guides visitors through the exhibits, with a ceiling height reaching up to 16 meters. He emphasizes how biomimetic forms not only provide structural stability but also inherent beauty.
Within this grand space, visitors encounter dynamic LED boxes, a zone showcasing a heart created from iPS cells, and an area revealing the world of soil microorganisms. It's a unique blend of surprise and learning, a true feast for the senses.
And this is the part most people miss... The pavilion's innovative water-based cooling system reduces the need for air conditioning by coating the structure's skin with a thin film of water. The spiral form also serves a practical purpose, collecting and reusing both this water and rainwater, which is then recirculated as grey water.
At night, the pavilion transforms into a dazzling spectacle, illuminated by color-changing lighting along the shell's ridges and projected light effects.
Expo 2025 Osaka, which concludes today, showcases numerous pavilions representing participating nations and private companies. Other notable examples include the USA Pavilion, housed within a translucent cube designed by Trahan Architects, and the Czech Republic's spiral-shaped ramp of timber and glass, designed by Apropos Architects.
So, what do you think? Is the Pasona Natureverse Pavilion a stunning example of architectural innovation and sustainability, or does it fall short of its ambitious goals? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! ๐ฑ๐ค
