Approximately one month after the conclusion of Expo 2025 Osaka, the remarkable designs and constructions showcased at the world's fair continue to stand as a lasting legacy of architectural innovation and cultural exchange. The international exposition, which brought together 165 participating countries, concluded with an impressive awards ceremony that recognized excellence across multiple categories of pavilion design and construction.
During the awards ceremony held on the penultimate evening of the event, a total of 45 awards were distributed among the participating nations, celebrating outstanding achievements in various aspects of pavilion development. The Bahrain Pavilion, designed by Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, garnered particular attention this year by receiving double recognition, highlighting its exceptional contribution to the exposition's success.
The Official Participant Awards system recognizes excellence across five distinct categories, each tailored to different pavilion types and construction approaches. These categories include Architecture and Landscape (exclusively for self-built pavilions), External Design (specifically for module pavilions), Exhibition Design, Theme Development, and Sustainability. The evaluation process was conducted by an international jury comprising nine expert professionals who meticulously visited all national and thematic pavilions during two comprehensive evaluation sessions held in May and October 2025.
The Architecture and Landscape Awards category specifically honored Type A self-built pavilions that demonstrated exceptional integration between architectural form, spatial composition, and environmental harmony. According to the Expo 2025 Master Plan and Design Guidelines, Type A pavilions represent structures constructed by participating countries on designated plots equipped with basic utility infrastructure provided by the organizing committee. Participants assume full responsibility for the design, construction, installation, and subsequent dismantling and site restoration processes.
In the Self-Built Pavilions Type A category for structures larger than 1,500 square meters, Foster + Partners' Saudi Arabia Pavilion claimed the prestigious Gold Award, showcasing innovative architectural solutions and sustainable design principles. The Spanish Pavilion, a collaborative effort by ENORME Studio, Smart and Green Design, and EXTUDIO, secured the Silver Award with its creative approach to spatial design and environmental integration. The United Arab Emirates Pavilion, developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration led by Earth to Ether Collective, earned the Bronze Award for its outstanding contribution to the exposition's architectural landscape.
For Self-Built Pavilions Type A smaller than 1,500 square meters, Lina Ghotmeh Architecture's Bahrain Pavilion earned the Gold Award, demonstrating exceptional architectural vision and cultural representation. Apropos Architects' Czechia Pavilion and Manuel Herz Architects' Switzerland Pavilion received Silver and Bronze awards respectively, each showcasing unique approaches to pavilion design within spatial constraints.
The External Design Awards category focused on Type BX pavilions, commonly referred to as Module Pavilions, which represent organizer-built structures that participating countries rent and customize according to their exhibition needs. While the fundamental building shell, designed within the Expo Masterplan by renowned architect Sou Fujimoto Architects, is provided by the organizing committee, participants retain creative freedom to define their exhibition content and customize both interior and exterior design elements. Angola received the Gold Award in this category, with Algeria earning Silver and India securing Bronze, each recognized for their innovative exterior treatments that successfully combined aesthetic impact with contextual sensitivity and sustainable design principles.
The Exhibition Design category celebrated creativity, spatial innovation, and narrative coherence across all pavilion types, including the unique Shared Pavilions (Type C) organized under three thematic focuses derived from the Expo's curatorial concept. In the larger Self-Built Pavilions Type A category, the China Pavilion, designed by China Architecture Design Group (CADG), earned the Gold Award for its exceptional exhibition design and visitor experience. Indonesia, designed by Raden Bagus Diwangkoro, and Canada, conceptualized by Robert Lepage, secured Silver and Bronze awards respectively.
Among the smaller Self-Built Pavilions Type A, Poland by interplay architects received the Gold Award, while the Philippines Pavilion, designed by Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc., and Austria by BWM Architects earned Silver and Bronze recognition. The Module Pavilions category saw Peru claim Gold, Vietnam Silver, and Cambodia Bronze for their outstanding exhibition design achievements.
The Shared Pavilions (Type C) were recognized across three distinct thematic categories reflecting the Expo's core mission. In the 'Saving Lives' theme, Panama, Ukraine, and Pakistan received Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards respectively. The 'Empowering Lives' category honored Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, and Yemen, while the 'Connecting Lives' theme celebrated Benin with Gold, followed by Armenia and Guyana with Silver and Bronze recognitions.
The Theme Development Awards highlighted pavilions that most effectively conveyed conceptual depth and demonstrated strong alignment with the Expo's overarching narrative of global cooperation and innovation. In the larger Self-Built Pavilions Type A category, the Italian pavilion, a collaborative effort between Mario Cucinella Architects and Yoshiki Matsuda Architects, received the prestigious Gold Award. Germany's pavilion by LAVA Architects and Belgium's design by Carré 7 earned Silver and Bronze awards respectively for their thematic coherence and conceptual strength.
For smaller Self-Built Pavilions Type A, Uzbekistan by Atelier Brückner won Gold, followed by Serbia by Aleatek Studio and Ireland, designed by the Government of Ireland's Office of Public Works (OPW), earning Silver and Bronze recognition. The Module Pavilions category recognized Jordan with Gold, Brazil with Silver, and Chile with Bronze for their exceptional thematic development.
The Sustainability Awards represented a crucial recognition of environmental consciousness and innovative approaches to sustainable design and construction practices. Four sustainability awards were presented across different pavilion categories, emphasizing the Expo's commitment to environmental responsibility and future-oriented thinking. LAVA Architects' German Pavilion was recognized in the larger Self-Built Pavilions Type A category, while STDM architectes' Luxembourg Pavilion won in the smaller pavilion category.
The German Pavilion's sustainability approach centered on the theme of circular economy, utilizing round wooden structural elements to embody principles of returning consumable goods to economic cycles, achieving zero waste targets, and minimizing resource consumption throughout the construction and operational phases. Similarly, the Luxembourg Pavilion embraced circularity principles, with a design conceived to reduce both resource and energy consumption during operation through efficient air-conditioning, lighting, and equipment systems, while carefully considering the embodied or 'grey' energy in material selection.
Jordan's Pavilion in the Module Pavilions category received sustainability recognition for its comprehensive circular approach that extended from initial planning through final execution, inviting visitors to experience the nation's rich history, traditional craftsmanship, and cultural heritage through environmentally conscious design choices. In the Shared Pavilions category, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea was honored for its coherent exhibition message that emphasized the delicate balance between technological progress, environmental preservation, and cultural identity maintenance.
Beyond the 45 Official Participant Awards, the Bureau International des Expositions also bestowed BIE Medals to recognize organizations and individuals who made extraordinary contributions to the Expo's success, along with the prestigious BIE Cosmos Prize. These additional recognitions highlight the collaborative spirit and exceptional dedication demonstrated by various stakeholders throughout the exposition's duration.
The architectural achievements at Expo 2025 Osaka reflect broader trends in contemporary design and construction, paralleling other recent recognitions in the field. These include the 20 winning projects of the 2025 Holcim Foundation Awards, which honor sustainable design and construction practices across five global regions, and the 15 winners of the eighth edition of The Architecture Drawing Prize, celebrating excellence in architectural representation and visualization.
The exposition's legacy extends beyond individual awards, serving as a testament to international collaboration in addressing global challenges through innovative design, sustainable practices, and cultural exchange. The diverse approaches demonstrated by participating countries offer valuable insights into contemporary architectural thinking and provide inspiration for future developments in sustainable construction and exhibition design practices worldwide.
