Weaving Maritime Heritage into Sustainable Design: Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Kingdom of Bahrain presents the pavilion titled Connecting Seas, which explores the country’s maritime heritage through an environmentally conscious architectural approach. Designed by Lebanese-born architect Lina Ghotmeh, the structure references traditional Bahraini dhow boats, reflecting the nation’s long-standing relationship with seafaring, trade, and craftsmanship.

The pavilion spans 995 square metres and reaches a height between 13 and 17 metres. It is constructed using around 3,000 pieces of unengineered wood, joined together through an intricate system of traditional joinery. This method combines Bahraini and Japanese woodworking techniques, highlighting a shared legacy of material craftsmanship and symbolising cultural dialogue between host and participant nations.

Focus on Materiality and Environmental Performance
Wood is the principal material used throughout the project, chosen not only for its historical associations but also for its sustainability credentials. The use of unengineered timber and mechanical connections allows for easy disassembly and reuse, in line with principles of circular design. The structure rests on minimal foundations to reduce site impact, and its open lattice construction promotes passive cooling, offering a climate-responsive alternative to energy-intensive systems.

These strategies contribute to the pavilion’s designation as one of the more environmentally conscious architectural contributions at the Expo, where temporary structures often raise concerns around material waste and carbon footprint.

Spatial and Experiential Design
Inside the pavilion, visitors are taken on a multisensory journey curated by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, in collaboration with artists and studios such as Shepherd Studio, Sissel Tolaas, Hassan Hujairi, and La Méduse. The exhibition explores themes including trade, craftsmanship, pearling, and ecology, using a combination of visual art, sound, scent, and interactivity to convey Bahrain’s cultural identity and maritime past.

The programme is complemented by additional spaces that reinforce the pavilion’s thematic narrative. These include a café offering a blend of Bahraini and Japanese cuisines curated by award-winning chef Tala Bashmi, and a business floor developed by Bahrain’s Economic Development Board, showcasing the country’s strategic economic positioning. Staff and volunteers wear garments designed by Bahraini fashion designer Lulwa Al Amin, incorporating coastal-inspired motifs that align with the architectural theme.

Relevance for Design Professionals
The Bahrain Pavilion provides an example of how national identity and sustainability goals can be integrated through material and spatial design. Its use of biobased, low-impact materials, circular construction principles, and craft-oriented detailing offers insights for professionals in architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture. In particular, it illustrates how temporary structures can be approached with environmental responsibility without compromising cultural storytelling or aesthetic integrity.

By focusing on natural materials, traditional techniques, and reuse potential, the pavilion engages with broader themes relevant to today’s design disciplines: contextuality, circularity, and the revaluation of local heritage within global frameworks.

Source: parametric-architecture.com
Photos: Iwan Baan