lina ghotmeh designs bahrain pavilion for expo 2025 osaka

Architectural Vision by Lina Ghotmeh

The Kingdom of Bahrain has unveiled its National Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka, with design by Lebanese-French architect Lina Ghotmeh and her Paris-based studio, Lina Ghotmeh—Architecture. This pavilion will mark the country’s fourth participation in a World Expo, following its previous participations in Expo Shanghai 2010, Expo Milan 2015, and Expo Dubai 2020. Built of timber, this project will be located in the Expo’s ‘Empowering Lives’ area, facing the sea to symbolize Bahrain’s rich maritime heritage.

Bahraini design studio Shepherd Studio leads the interior design of the exhibition under Lina Ghotmeh’s artistic direction. The exhibition will highlight Bahrain’s maritime, logistical, and natural resources.

image © Lina Ghotmeh—Architecture

Inspiration from Traditional Dhow Boats

The design by architect Lina Ghotmeh draws inspiration from the traditional dhow boats of Bahrain, reinterpreting millennial boat-building techniques to showcase the nation’s craftsmanship and manufacturing heritage at Expo 2025 Osaka. The pavilion also pays homage to Japanese wood artistry, celebrating the bilateral relationship between Bahrain and Japan.

By focusing on the country’s maritime history, the pavilion highlights Bahrain’s strategic geographic location as a maritime crossroads in the Gulf Region. This historical position as a major port of trade has contributed to the country’s cultural diversity, driving innovation and creativity. This aligns with the overarching theme of Expo Osaka, ‘Designing Future Society for our Lives,’ and its sub-themes ‘Saving Lives,’ ‘Empowering Lives,’ and ‘Connecting Lives.’ The pavilion is expected to attract over 28 million visitors from 150 countries.

The pavilion’s structure reinterprets heritage boat-building techniques, featuring a wooden structure with an outer aluminum layer. Designed for easy disassembly and recycling after the Expo, the pavilion also incorporates ancient cooling techniques to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling methods, adapting to contemporary needs and lowering environmental impact.

a ship under construction in India | image courtesy the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Emphasizing Historical Maritime Significance

The pavilion emphasizes Bahrain’s historical maritime heritage, which has served as a primary means of communication with the world since the Dilmun Civilization. Showcasing Bahrain’s strategic location as a gateway to the Gulf, the pavilion will illustrate its history as a major port of trade and its exceptional cultural diversity and innovation.

His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and General Commissioner of Bahrain’s National Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025, stated: ‘In today’s rapidly evolving world, our efforts aim to establish Bahrain as a leader in innovation, creativity, and sustainability. Our participation in the World Expo is crucial, providing a platform to demonstrate our diverse capabilities, rich cultural heritage, and innovative solutions to global challenges.’

Japanese constructors building with wood | image courtesy the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain

He emphasized Bahrain’s unique geographic location and historical role as a maritime crossroads, shaping its rich culture and economic strengths. He also highlighted the synergy between various sectors in Bahrain working together to represent the Kingdom. Additionally, he noted the importance of Expo Osaka as a platform for global communication and collaboration, ultimately benefiting humanity.

Expo Osaka 2025 will take place in the Osaka-Kansai region of Japan from April 13 to October 13, 2025. Under the theme “Designing Future Society for our Lives,” the Expo is expected to attract over 28 million visitors exploring contributions from around 150 countries. The Expo will feature various events, providing opportunities for global knowledge exchange and collaboration.

sewn planking involves fitting the wooden planks together tightly and sewing them together with natural cord
image courtesy the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain
a man works on a large wooden boat (dhow) at a shipyard in Manama in about 1950
image courtesy the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain