Expo Osaka 2025: The Austrian Pavilion Sets Timber to Music

Titled Composing the Future and designed by BWM Designers & Architects, the Austrian Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 expresses the idea of writing the future as if it were a melody. This iconic structure features a 16.5 m high timber façade in the form of a spiraling music staff, symbolizing the fusion of Austria’s past, traditions, and culture with technological innovation. Inside, the spiral transforms into a digital ribbon, underscoring Austria’s spirit and role as a center for innovation, research, and technology in the heart of Europe.

Sustainability was central throughout the design and construction phases. Collaboration with HASSLACHER group as timber supplier was key in this respect, with the firm selecting over 40 cubic meters of spruce for the timber music staff. The choice of timber and the use of removable screws, instead of adhesives, align with this eco-centric approach. Also, when the exhibition closes, the structure can be dismantled and reused. In fact, each component is designed to be fully disassembled and reassembled many times. Timber was also chosen for its high strength-to-weight ratio.

BWM Designers & Architects designed the timber staff around geodesic bands, resulting in a spiral shape that allows slender wood lamellas to be joined without multi-axis CNC milling. After bending, the lamellas are doweled to form a structurally stable, freestanding spiral that resists wind gusts of up to 270 km/h. Graf-Holztechnik and engineering firm Werkraum Ingenieure ZT-GmbH also contributed to the construction of the spiral.

To procure the 40 cubic meters of spruce needed for this important project, HASSLACHER group used a mechanical grading process at their site in Sachsenburg (NORITEC Holzindustrie GmbH). The lamellas were milled to 8 and 12 mm thickness to achieve the tight radii required for the staff. Composing the Future therefore goes beyond expressing the idea of a melody for the future to be a masterpiece of craftsmanship for today and future generations.

More info: www.hasslacher.com