PEFC helps Italian ‘Art Regenerate Life’ in Japan

27 June 2025 Sustainable construction

The Italy Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 stands out as one of the most sustainable structures at Osaka Expo 2025, with over 85% of the 742m³ of wood used to build it, being PEFC-certified.

With the theme of ‘Art Regenerates Life’ the Italian Pavilion has been created as a ‘grand showcase of Italian craftsmanship’, drawing inspiration from the Ideal City of the Renaissance. It includes a theatre space for performances and exhibitions, a portico, and a piazza topped off with an Italian Garden providing a green, plant-filled space, which can be viewed from the Grand Ring.

Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA), in collaboration with project management firm Beyond Limits and construction companies Nomura Co. and Nishio Rent All Co, the Pavilion was conceived as ‘a dynamic and immersive laboratory, offering a journey through Italy, told via a series of sensory and narrative experiences that actively engage the visitor.’ It is designed to promote the image of Italy through its artistic, technological and scientific excellence.

With an exhibition area of 3,000m² and a usable height of about 9m, the structure includes 529.5m³ of PEFC-certified pine and spruce laminated beams, 102.31m³ of cross laminated timber (CLT) panels made with legal and local (Japanese Sugi cedar) certified wood and 110.76m³ of plywood.

Approximately 85% of the total wood used for the structure is PEFC certified – the highest percentage of wood coming from sustainably managed forests in relation to its volume of all the Osaka Expo 2025 pavilions.

“The use of PEFC certified wood is essential to ensure responsible management of forest resources and to contribute to the fight against deforestation,” says Antonio Brunori, Secretary General of PEFC Italy.

“PEFC certification ensures that the wood comes from forests managed in a sustainable and legal way, in which rigorous environmental, social and economic criteria are respected. Furthermore, certified wood is traceable along the entire supply chain, providing assurances of transparency and reliability to the final consumer.”

The pavilion has been designed as a ‘dynamic laboratory’ that can be transformed and reused once the Expo is over. The intention is to ensure that the wood ‘continues to live’ with each individual element reused, including locally in energy efficient homes in Japan, thereby storing carbon and contributing to the wider circular economy.

All the national pavilions at Osaka Expo 2025 are housed within a giant wooden ring. The Grand Roof – designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto – is 20m high, with a 2km circumference, and an 8m walkway.

It is one of the largest wooden structures ever built with 27,000m³ of wood, of which 7,000 m³ for the roof entirely PEFC-certified. Learn more at: www.expo2025.or.jp/en/