The Colombia Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 has unveiled a striking architectural concept centered around the theme "ICE CUBE," drawing inspiration from a memorable scene in Gabriel García Márquez's literary masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude." The pavilion's design captures the wonder of a young boy encountering ice for the first time, translating this powerful literary moment into a dynamic built environment that challenges visitors' expectations.

Designed by MORF Inc., with Karim Chahal serving as Project Director and Ko Oono as Principal Architect, the pavilion's most distinctive feature is its facade composed of translucent cubes positioned at varying angles. This innovative arrangement creates a compelling sense of movement and articulation across the building's exterior surface. The facade utilizes semi-transparent polycarbonate panels integrated with sophisticated color-controlled lighting systems, enabling the structure to undergo dramatic visual transformations throughout both day and night cycles.

The architectural concept deliberately establishes an unexpected connection between Colombia and ice, a relationship that gradually unfolds as visitors navigate through the pavilion's carefully planned spaces. Upon entering, guests are welcomed into a spacious entrance hall featuring a Colombian coffee bar, which provides both a sensory introduction to the country's renowned coffee culture and a warm contrast to the ice-themed exterior. This thoughtful juxtaposition serves as a bridge between the pavilion's conceptual framework and Colombia's authentic cultural offerings.

The pavilion's structural system reflects a commitment to efficiency and sustainability through its prefabricated light steel frame construction. This building method was specifically chosen for its rapid assembly capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and environmental adaptability. The structure rests on a floating foundation system designed to address the challenging soil conditions at the Expo site, while simultaneously accommodating flexible exhibition arrangements that can be reconfigured as needed throughout the event.

In an innovative approach to space utilization, the design team repurposed part of the excavated foundation area as a mezzanine level dedicated to back-of-house operations. This strategic decision maximizes the pavilion's available footprint while maintaining the integrity of the visitor experience on the main exhibition levels. The modular steel framework not only facilitated rapid on-site assembly but was also conceived with a forward-thinking approach to the pavilion's post-Expo future.

The project's design philosophy directly addresses the inherently temporary nature of Exposition architecture, emphasizing principles of adaptability and resource conservation. The modular construction system enables complete disassembly, transportation, and reassembly in entirely different contexts, with discussions already underway regarding the pavilion's next permanent location. This approach demonstrates Colombia's commitment to sustainable building practices and responsible resource management.

As Expo Osaka 2025 reaches its midpoint and continues through October 13, 2025, the Colombia Pavilion joins an impressive array of international exhibitions. Notable neighboring pavilions include the UAE's "Earth to Ether" presentation, which offers visitors an immersive, multisensory journey through the country's cultural heritage and technological innovations. Singapore's pavilion, themed "Where Dreams Take Shape," provides insights into the nation's cultural identity and technological advancement initiatives.

The Indonesia Pavilion complements the international showcase with its "Diversity in Unity" philosophy, featuring a structure inspired by the country's maritime heritage and designed in the form of a stylized boat hull symbolizing progress and resilience. Together, these national presentations create a diverse cultural landscape that reflects the global nature of the Exposition experience, with Colombia's ice cube concept standing out as a unique interpretation of literary inspiration translated into architectural innovation.