Designed by international architecture and design firm , the Australian Pavilion is a striking representation of Australia’s culture, innovation and commitment to . Having opened in April 2025, it crosses over with another significant intervention of on the world stage, as the team behind Home showcases its work at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Indeed, it’s an important time for the nation’s design industry on the global stage.
With its theme ‘Chasing the Sun,’ the Australian Pavilion design for Osaka draws inspiration from the eucalyptus tree and its gumnut – a visual metaphor for diversity, growth and renewal. Buchan’s work on the Pavilion is for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the exterior features a vibrant, tensile fabric façade shaped to resemble a gumnut in bloom. It’s an approach designed to symbolise the power of future generations and align with the overarching Expo theme, ‘Designing Future Society for our Lives.’
“Our team is immensely proud of the Australia Pavilion, which showcases our unique country on the world stage and supports the enduring friendship between Australia and Japan,” says lead architect, Nataly Ernst.
Buchan creative lead on the Pavilion, Dong Uong, comments further on the sensory immersion and interactive natire of the exhibition: “The experience ‘chases the sun’ across land, sky and sea Country, based on the structure and flow of the song lines that traverse the land and have shared knowledge between Indigenous people for millennia.”
Buchan has worked with Nikken Sekkei Ltd as local architect and consulting engineers, while McGregor Coxall acted as landscape architect and Karrda (Barbara Bynder and Farley Garlett) as Indigenous Cultural Advisor. Another notable presence in the overall project is NAU, Cult’s Australian-led design brand. They have furnished the Australia Pavilion with contemporary furniture designed in Australia, while the conclusion of the Expo will see NAU’s sustainability initiative, Cultivated, step in to take charge of the return and reuse of the pieces.
Richard Munao, founder and CEO of Cult, says: “We are honoured to bring NAU’s vision of contemporary Australian design to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Our participation underscores NAU’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of contemporary Australian design and presenting it to a global audience.
“We look forward to demonstrating how our innovative furniture can enhance the experience of visitors at the Australian Pavilion, reflecting the best of what Australian design has to offer. Additionally, through our Cultivated initiative, we ensure that these designs continue to make a positive impact long after the Expo, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and responsible design.”
Returning to the core design of Buchan’s Pavilion, the close collaboration with Indigenous cultural advisors Karrda is directed towards embedding a sense of Country throughout the project. The immersive exhibition within the Pavilion is designed as a sensory bushwalk, echoing the movement of songlines across land, sky and sea Country. This journey is designed to provide a narrative that not only highlights First Nations Australians’ ancient knowledge systems but also showcases how these principles can inform a sustainable future.
A key feature of the Pavilion is the Cultural Precinct, a welcoming outdoor space with a yarning circle, performance stage and Australian café, designed to encourage gathering, storytelling and cultural exchange. Programming will span music, theatre, dance and screen. Inside, the Special Event Zone provides four versatile spaces for business and government functions, with interiors that reflect Australia’s diverse landscapes through colour and material choices.
The project also employs circular economy principles, utilising a reusable steel frame previously used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The lightweight, light-permeable shell reduces waste and energy consumption while creating an environment that responds to the shifting patterns of natural light.
World Expo 2025 Osaka is expected to attract 28 million visitors over six months, presenting a major opportunity for Australia to strengthen ties with Japan, promote its creative industries and showcase the nation’s design excellence to a global audience.
Buchan
McGregor Coxall
NAU
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