Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates has designed a boat-informed structure for Qatar‘s national pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

Driven by an appreciation of the strong coastal relations that benefit both Qatar and Japan, Kengo Kuma & Associates and Qatar Museums Authority took inspiration from the traditional Qatari dhow boat construction as well as Japanese wood joinery for the pavilion’s design.

Visualisations of the approximately 1,200-metre-square Qatar Pavilion reveal an intricate wooden structure adorned by a white, fabric veil that recalls a boat’s sail.

At the centre of the the structure will be a rectilinear volume with facades composed of wooden panels of various lengths and widths.

At the pavilion’s front, a walkway will provide access to the space and be flanked by shallow water features that run alongside the pavilion.

Pathways providing external circulation will wrap around the central volume and be partially sheltered by a secondary structure composed of large columns and an open roof connected by joinery.

Arched openings in the canopy will follow the spacing of the external columns to provide views out of the space.

Inside, the pavilion will introduce visitors to the historic and contemporary significance of Qatar’s coastal areas as well as highlight the country’s progress towards achieving its National Vision 2030.

Set to take place from 13 April to 13 October next year, Expo 2025 Osaka has been masterplanned by Sou Fujimoto Architects and follows an overarching theme of Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

The event will host a series of national pavilions encircled by a 60,000-square-metre wooden ring designed by the studio and informed by traditional Japanese timber construction.