Osaka Expo 2025 Umi-Kuru Retaill Facility by TAISEI DESIGN Planners Architects & Engineers

The Umi-Kuru Retail Facility, designed by TAISEI DESIGN Planners, Architects & Engineers, stands as a landmark of environmental innovation and circular design for the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Situated on coastal reclaimed land adjacent to the Expo Arena, the building embodies the spirit of sustainability and regeneration, serving as both a functional retail space and a symbolic environmental statement. Constructed almost entirely from upcycled marine plastic waste, it challenges conventional notions of temporary Expo architecture, transforming discarded materials into a poetic architectural gesture that addresses one of the planet’s most pressing ecological concerns.

A Circular Design Manifesto

Marine plastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental crisis, endangering ecosystems and coastal communities worldwide. In response, the Umi-Kuru project was envisioned as a built manifesto for the circular economy, illustrating how architecture can turn waste into value. Every aspect of the structure—from its material palette to its assembly system—was guided by the principles of reuse, adaptability, and reversibility.

The building was conceived not as a static object, but as a flexible system designed for disassembly, relocation, and reuse after the Expo concludes. Even its foundation and structural framework are designed to be easily taken apart, with components repurposable as furniture or small-scale architectural elements. This approach transforms the project from a temporary event pavilion into a prototype for long-term material stewardship and zero-waste construction.

From Ocean Waste to Architectural Skin

The project began with a symbolic and tangible act: the design team personally collected marine plastic waste from Japan’s coastlines, including the island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture and other coastal regions. The recovered material was transformed into 5,000 unique façade panels, equivalent to roughly 30,000 discarded plastic bottles. Each panel underwent rigorous testing—including material strength evaluations, wind tunnel experiments, and weather exposure analyses—to ensure safety and durability while maintaining aesthetic and environmental integrity.

Visually, the panels form a dynamic, shimmering façade that resembles a school of fish swimming in the sky. Their iridescent, overlapping configuration captures the play of light and wind, filtering the harsh summer sun while creating a dappled, underwater-like atmosphere within the retail space. Symbolically, each piece embodies the planet itself—composed of land and sea—and collectively they communicate a powerful environmental message about regeneration and responsibility.

Responsive Design for a Coastal Environment

Given its wind-exposed coastal location, the Umi-Kuru structure required a façade system capable of adapting to environmental forces. The design team developed a movable panel system that allows each component to rotate freely with the wind, significantly reducing structural load. The panels are suspended on stainless-steel (SUS) wires with offset anchoring points, creating a scale-like configuration reminiscent of fish scales. This pattern not only enhances wind resistance—allowing stability even at wind speeds up to 40 m/s—but also produces a subtle kinetic effect as panels ripple with the breeze.

Through repeated wind tunnel testing, the architects refined the form and mounting system to optimize both performance and aesthetic coherence. Adjustable clamping nuts at the base of the wires allow fine-tuning of tension, ensuring precision and resilience under varying conditions.

Lightweight Structure and Reusability

The building’s main framework employs simple, low-cost steel pipes, intentionally selected for their reusability after the Expo. Connection details were treated as key design features rather than purely technical necessities. The architects developed a minimal, elegant clamp system made of precision-machined stainless steel, allowing for quick manual assembly and disassembly. This detailing contributes to the building’s refined aesthetic, proving that even temporary architecture can exhibit craftsmanship, beauty, and permanence of intent.

Grounding the Building in Ecology

Sustainability in the Umi-Kuru project extends beyond its recycled façade and modular structure—it also reaches the ground beneath. The flooring is finished with reed chip pavement, a material innovation that merges landscape restoration with architecture. Reeds, harvested from the Udono area along Osaka’s Yodo River, were repurposed to create a soft, warm-hued surface. This process not only gives new life to natural byproducts but also supports river ecosystem health, as regular reed cutting helps improve water quality.

The reed flooring forms a tactile, resilient base that contrasts with the reflective plastic panels above. Its natural warmth and texture create a calming and comfortable environment for visitors, transforming the retail facility into a place of rest and reflection amid the Expo’s vibrant atmosphere.

A Message Beyond Architecture

While modest in scale, the Umi-Kuru Retail Facility represents a profound convergence of design, technology, and environmental ethics. It redefines what temporary structures can achieve—demonstrating that architecture can be playful yet purposeful, ephemeral yet enduring in meaning. The project’s name, “Umi-Kuru,” evokes the cyclical motion of the sea and humanity’s capacity to return to ecological balance.

By transforming ocean waste into a living architectural skin, TAISEI DESIGN Planners, Architects & Engineers offer a blueprint for future sustainable construction, where material origin, life cycle, and afterlife are integral to the design narrative. The pavilion not only decontaminates the environment physically but also cleanses the collective consciousness, reminding visitors of architecture’s role in shaping a more responsible and regenerative future.

Photography: Norihito Yamauchi & Manami Takahashi Photography & Manami Takahashi