-‘It will be like looking at 1500s Italian palace’-

ROME, Dec. 2, 2024 /ANSA=Kyodo JBN/ --

Innovation and technology, also expressed by regions, and at the centre the concept of sustainability intended as “recuperating materials and avoiding waste” were at the forefront of the presentation of Mario Cucinella, the architect of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, during an institutional visit to the Italian construction site organized for the international media.

Cucinella recalled the cooperation with two large Japanese firms in the construction process – the Nomura and Nishio Rent – characterized by a vision of architecture from a regenerative perspective.

“A pavilion as a manifesto of sustainability, certified as carbon free, and the choice to build it all in wood goes in the direction of being able to assemble and dismantle it”, he explained.

The idea is to create a “large hangar of knowledge”, stressed Cucinella, with three main elements that represent Italy’s history: the theatre to welcome visitors, a large square as a meeting place, and a sweeping garden which represents the interconnection between the two cultures, with the help of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.

“Today we finished the part of structures, and in January we will start the construction of the theatre and the garden”, he noted, explaining that “70% of the pavilion has been built”.

Innovation also stems from a long Italian tradition of using wood, the Italian architect reminded reporters, in which beauty and Italian taste cohabit with ethics and sustainability.

“Today the technology of gluing wood has allowed to also build very large buildings.

“And wood is a material that has captured CO2, thus important to balance out emissions”, he noted.

The project vies to give visitors the impression they are visiting a palace where the structure is always visible, concluded Cucinella.

“The wooden ceiling has been designed to remain visible and to be seen as an ancient Italian palace from the 1500s”, he said.

Source: General Commissioner’s Office of Italy for Expo 2025 Osaka