Unveiling of the Swiss Pavilion for World Expo 2025

On February 1, 2023, the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan together with Presence Switzerland and the Consulate of Switzerland, Swissnex in Japan held two press conferences in Osaka and Tokyo followed by an evening reception at the Swiss residence to unveil the Swiss Pavilion design and model in front of media, sponsors and partners. During the press conference in Tokyo, Secretary General of Expo 2025, Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, and Commissioner General of the Swiss Pavilion Mr. Manuel Salchli inaugurated the event by signing the contract confirming Switzerland’s official participation to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Together with Ambassador Andreas Baum in Tokyo and in presence of Felix Moesner in Osaka, they revealed the model of the Swiss Pavilion to the delight of the audience. Through three core themes, Life, Planet and Augmented Human, the pavilion will showcase Switzerland’s edge in life sciences, health, nutrition, sustainability, AI and robotics.

The smallest ecological footprint at Expo 2025

The Swiss pavilion will stand out not only thanks to its spherical architecture with five spheres embedded in a lush green landscape, but also because it will be the pavilion with the smallest ecological footprint at Expo 2025. The shell of the exhibition spaces is composed of a foil supported by a lightweight construction. It weighs no more than 400kg – just 1% of a conventional building shell – and can be transported with two to three cargo bikes. The foil is recyclable and will be made into specially designed furniture after the Expo.

For more information:

https://houseofswitzerland.org/events/swiss-pavilion-expo-osaka

Reception

The two press conferences were followed by a reception in the evening, which gathered 80 guests from Swiss companies. The opening remarks were given by Ambassador Baum and Ambassador Haneda, Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan highlighting the ties between Switzerland and Japan. Commissioner General of the Swiss Pavilion Mr. Manuel Salchli then presented the concept and design of the Swiss Pavilion with inputs for the design and production team, represented by Manuel Herz from Manuel Herz Architekten, Mark Breitenmoser from Nüssli and Iwan Funk from Bellprat Partner. EXPO Co-creation Program Director for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and Vitality.Swiss Ambassador Seiichi Saito concluded the presentation by giving his views on this innovative project which offers a radical vision in terms of weight, recyclability and reusability. Lightness, sustainability and Swiss quality are the key words of the Swiss pavilion.

The road to the Expo 2025 is only beginning and the entire Team Switzerland will continue to explore the core themes of our pavilion over the next two years through Vitality.Swiss, a communication program on the road to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.