A web of wooden joinery designed to mimic the rafters of a boat frames the Bahrain Pavilion, designed by Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh for the Expo 2025 Osaka.
Named Connecting Seas, the 17-metre-tall pavilion draws on Bahrain’s coastal heritage, taking cues from the region’s traditional dhow boats that were once used to transport heavy goods.
“The Bahrain Pavilion is conceived as an anatomy of a dhow, a contemporary evocation of the traditional Bahraini dhow – a vessel deeply embedded in the kingdom’s maritime heritage,” Ghotmeh told Dezeen.
“Rather than directly replicating the vessel, the architecture captures its essence – its rhythm, timber construction and sense of voyage,” she added.
Ghotmeh, who is founder of Paris-based studio Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, designed the pavilion with a curving roof that dips at its middle and rises at each end.
The structure encompasses 995 square metres and is built from 3,000 pieces of Japanese cedar. The framework protrudes in a patterned formation from the pavilion’s side elevations to “evoke the movement of rafters in the sea”.
In contrast to the wood, a translucent membrane envelops the front facade as a nod to the sails typically found on a dhow boat.
Beyond its gridded facade, the pavilion opens up to an atrium that traverses the structure’s four floors and is crowned by a roof opening.
This central area serves as the main exhibition space and is divided from the adjacent spaces by expansive membrane walls chosen to create an “ethereal presence” within the pavilion.
“These materials give the structure a soft, sail-like appearance, evoking the fabric of a traditional dhow and gently filtering daylight into the space,” Ghotmeh said.
“The choice of membrane not only enhances the pavilion’s lightness and permeability but also supports passive climate control.”
Flanking the atrium is a cafe on one side and a gift shop on the other, where openings draw light and ventilation into the interior.
A wide central staircase leads to the upper levels, with the first and second floors containing additional exhibition spaces that wind around the central void. The exhibits are dedicated to “trade, crafts, manufacture, pearling and ecology” in Bahrain.
The pavilion’s third floor operates as a business area, complete with seating and meeting spaces. Additional services, including an elevator and second staircase, are held at the building’s rear.
Sustainable strategies integrated into the design include the use of reusable materials, minimal foundations and passive cooling techniques.
“The Bahrain Pavilion integrates sustainability holistically through its design, materials, and construction methods,” Ghotmeh said.
“These strategies aim at making the Bahrain Pavilion a model of circular, low-impact architecture.”
Other national pavilions at Osaka Expo include the Saudi Arabia Pavilion designed by Foster + Partners to mimic traditional villages in the Kingdom and the UK Pavilion by Woo Architects which has been cloaked in a “tessellated veil”.
These two structures were featured in our roundup of 10 stand-out pavilions at the event, along with the Bahrain Pavilion.
The photography is by Iwan Baan unless otherwise stated.
Expo 2025 Osaka takes place in Osaka until 13 October 2025. For more fairs, events and talks in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.
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