14-Acre Mass Timber Structure Centerpiece of Expo 2025 Osaka

A circular wooden structure more than 2,200 feet in diameter will be the focal point of the upcoming World’s Fair in Japan.

The Mass Timber world will have a new start in 2025 when a giant wooden structure will encircle the entire Expo 2025 Osaka World’s Fair. Created by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, it will cover more than 14 acres and double as a shelter from the elements, as well as a rooftop observation deck.

Organizers of the fair, which opens on April 13 and runs for six months and is being built on an artificial island on Osaka Bay, said the structure is intended to serve as a symbol of “one sky” and be a “connection” between the participating countries. Construction of the structure, which will be built from bamboo and other materials, recently began. Fujimoto has been quoted as saying he designed the wooden ring as a contemporary interpretation of traditional Japanese timber construction, such as that used to construct the Kiyomizu-Dera temple in Kyoto.

Image: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

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