Open Invitation

In an age of increasingly visceral immersive virtual experiences, the role of the Expo pavilion is transforming from didactic and directive into narrative-driven and experience-led, evoking the warmth of hospitality space. Through layered modeling of symbolic architecture and design moving far beyond branding, a nation can be communicated through artistic means, informed by the immersive qualities of virtual space, and forged through sensory and tactile qualities of materials, colors, and movement, transcending the virtual and rising instead to the spiritual.

LAVA’s design of the Kuwaiti pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025 seeks to express this idea; its physical form embodies the nation’s essential characteristics: its coastal desert landscape, history as a trade hub, rich culture of craft, and renowned hospitality. The open, inviting two-storey pavilion intricately weaves these characteristics into an embracing experience. The soaring and expansive wing-shaped roof symbolizes a welcoming gesture of generosity representative of Kuwaiti culture–made of a lightweight structure similar to LAVA’s German pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020. Flowing ripples guide its structure and circulation, expressing Kuwait’s harmonious natural topography and the traditional patterns of floating fabrics. Illuminated at night, it reinforces the Expo theme of the ‘Visionary Lighthouse.’ “The pavilion serves as more than just a physical structure; it represents Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035’ for the future and invites visitors to experience its culture and values firsthand,” says Christian Tschersich, Associate Partner at LAVA.

The flowing ripples of the exterior extend to interior wayfinding, effortlessly guiding visitors through a seamless user experience evocative of the comfort and ease of hospitality settings. It begins beneath the patterned shadow play of the sweeping roof, which shelters queues and a pearl-shaped exterior performance stage. "Upon entering, we thoughtfully formed a series of ascending halls that offer a multi-sensory journey through the history, present, and future of the Gulf state, encompassing its trading legacy, societal fabric, and scientific achievements," explains Tschersich. “As the culmination, a serene domed hall envelops visitors in an immersive projection that evokes the romanticism of a starry desert sky, inviting them to co-create their visions for the future.” Exiting through a traditional Islamic courtyard adorned with indigenous Kuwaiti flora completes the experience.

In a reciprocal symbiosis of architecture and interior design, the pavilion’s organic geometry serves as an ordering system. Flow lines guide visitors from the entrance to the exit, transitioning from 2D wayfinding to 3D elements like steps, information counters, installations, seating, and landscaping. “It's like navigating a softly rippling landscape that gradually transitions space and seamlessly integrates functions, experiences, and user groups,” describes Tschersich.

A tactile blend of traditional craft, colors of the desert, and advanced technology evokes not only comfort but character and depth. LAVA observed and recorded elements of Kuwaiti heritage, including Al-Sabah weaving and intricate metalwork with finely articulated regional patterns, reinterpreting them into coffee and tea sets, tabletops, and wooden doors made with a fusion of traditional artisanal craft combined with digital techniques such as 3D printing and three-axis bending of pipes. From architectural expression to the details of the interior, the pavilion encourages visitors to engage in this experience and leave with a connection to an embodiment of Kuwait’s vision for the future.