The Kingdom of Bahrain inaugurated its national pavilion – Connecting Seas – at Expo 2025 Osaka. This marks the Kingdom’s fourth national participation in the World Expo, which is being held in the Kansai region of Japan and will run until October 13, 2025, under the overarching theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. Bahrain’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka was commissioned and organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
“The Kingdom of Bahrain’s national participation ‘Connecting Seas,’ explores Bahrain’s longstanding position as a port at the intersection of cultures and commerce, linking international trade routes across the chapters of history,” noted Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed, Commissioner General of the Bahrain Pavilion.
Situated in the ‘Empowering Lives’ zone, the pavilion spans 995 square meters and rises from 13 to 17 meters in height across four levels, overlooking the seafront. Designed by Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh, the structure is made from wood and cooled by coastal winds, making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the Expo. The pavilion reflects Bahrain’s historical connection to the sea, drawing inspiration from the Kingdom’s seafaring heritage and traditional dhow construction, integrating Japanese joinery techniques.
“The Bahrain Pavilion embodies sustainability, cultural exchange, and craftsmanship. Built from around 3,000 pieces of unengineered wood using intricate joinery, it minimizes waste,” says Ghotmeh. “Minimal foundations avoid concrete, nearly all materials are reusable, and passive cooling reduces energy use – making it a testament to sustainable innovation.”
According to Ghotmeh, central to Bahrain’s culture is its historical relationship with the sea. The island’s identity has been shaped by its maritime heritage – once a center for pearl diving and trade, the sea represents both livelihood and cultural exchange. This connection to water resonates with Ghotmeh’s design philosophy, which seeks to create architecture that is in dialogue with its natural surroundings. Just as the sea has shaped Bahrain’s landscapes and traditions, Ghotmeh strived to design spaces that reflect this symbiosis between people and their environment.
“In representing Bahrain, I aim to honor this legacy while embracing contemporary aspirations. It is about capturing the spirit of openness, resilience, and creativity that defines the society. Through architecture, I seek to create spaces that tell the story of Bahrain’s past while offering places of connection, reflection, and inspiration for the future,” added Ghotmeh.
The choice of traditional ship construction as the core concept of the Bahrain Pavilion stems from a deep exploration into the cultural and historical ties between Bahrain and Japan. Every project begins with a process of research – an ‘archaeology’ of place – to understand both the country being represented and the location where the pavilion is built. In this case, the investigation delved into Bahrain’s relationship with the sea, the art of dhow-making, and Japan’s rich tradition of wooden craftsmanship, particularly in Osaka.
Bahrain’s history is intimately connected to the sea, which has shaped its identity, economy, and culture for centuries. The dhow – a traditional wooden sailing vessel – is emblematic of this maritime heritage. Beyond being a means of transport and trade, the dhow symbolizes exploration, connection, and the exchange of ideas between different parts of the world. Its handcrafted construction reflects a mastery of wood and a knowledge passed down through generations, embodying the human connection to both nature and craftsmanship.
In parallel, Japan’s architectural heritage is deeply rooted in the use of wood. Osaka, where the pavilion is situated, has a long tradition of wooden construction, with techniques that emphasize simplicity, modularity, and harmony with the natural environment. This resonates with Bahrain’s own artisanal culture, creating a meaningful dialogue between the two countries. The decision to use unengineered wood, assembled using traditional joinery methods, reflects a commitment to sustainable construction.
By drawing inspiration from the construction of dhows, the pavilion becomes a metaphor for travel, exchange, and interconnectedness. It stands as a meeting point between Bahrain and Japan, between land and sea, tradition and modernity. The hand-built structure, while rooted in centuries-old techniques, incorporates contemporary technologies to meet today’s architectural and environmental standards. Through this fusion of craftsmanship, materiality, and symbolism, the Bahrain Pavilion becomes a testament to the enduring relationship between culture, nature, and human ingenuity.
The pavilion’s design integrates sustainability at its core, with both visible and invisible elements contributing to environmental efficiency. Passive cooling is achieved primarily through the structure’s openness and natural ventilation. The central hall acts as a chimney-like void that allows warm air to rise and escape, while the permeable skin of the building facilitates cross-ventilation. This creates a naturally ventilated environment that remains protected from direct external conditions while maintaining airflow, reducing the need for mechanical cooling systems.
A key aspect of the pavilion’s sustainability is the construction itself. The entire structure is built using unengineered wood, chosen not only for its aesthetic and cultural resonance but also for its minimal environmental impact. Unlike wood cladding applied over another structural framework, the pavilion’s wooden elements form the structural core, eliminating the need for additional materials. This approach reduces waste and promotes efficiency during construction.
Moreover, the design prioritizes the complete reuse of materials after the pavilion is dismantled. Each wooden element is standardized and assembled using techniques that allow for easy disassembly without damage, ensuring that all components can re-enter the local market and be repurposed. This circular approach extends the lifecycle of materials, reducing waste and aligning with contemporary challenges of resource conservation.
Other invisible elements embedded in the design include the use of natural light to reduce energy consumption and the careful orientation of the structure to optimize shading and thermal performance. Together, these features create an environment that embodies sustainability not only as a technical goal but as an architectural principle, making the pavilion both an efficient structure and a statement of responsible design in today’s world.
The architecture of the Bahrain Pavilion is intrinsically linked to what is displayed inside, creating an immersive experience where visitors feel part of an ongoing process – a space that is alive, evolving, and in constant movement. Inspired by the construction of traditional dhows, the architecture evokes a sense of being within a vessel, poised for departure, ready to embark on a journey of discovery.
At the heart of the pavilion, a multi-story void plunges visitors into an environment of sound and imagery. Echoes of the past and present, the rhythm of waves, and the sights of Bahrain’s maritime heritage unfold around them. Projections of the sea in motion, interspersed with glimpses of contemporary life, create the impression of standing beneath the sails of a boat – on the cusp of a voyage that connects Bahrain’s seafaring history to its present-day culture.
As visitors move through the pavilion, they transition from this central void into the building’s outer skin – its in-between spaces that run vertically along the structure’s height. These interstitial spaces reveal a layered narrative of Bahrain’s culture, where tradition and innovation coexist. Here, craftsmanship is celebrated both in the architectural details and the curated displays that showcase the country’s artistry, ingenuity, and evolving identity. The porous nature of the architecture allows glimpses of the surrounding environment, reinforcing the dialogue between inside and outside, between heritage and contemporary life.
The interplay between architecture and exhibition is seamless: the structure itself becomes part of the storytelling, echoing the themes of craftsmanship, connection, and movement that define Bahrain’s relationship with the sea. Just as the dhow represents both a vessel of transport and a symbol of cultural exchange, the pavilion serves as both container and content – a living expression of a culture shaped by its environment, its people, and its ongoing dialogue with the world.
Visitors are invited to experience the pavilion through a sensory exhibition experience that engages the five senses. Curated by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the exhibition features collaborations with artists Shepherd Studio, Sissel Tolaas, Hassan Hujairi, and La Méduse to narrate the theme of connectivity through trade, crafts, manufacture, pearling, and ecology in a series of galleries. In addition, the pavilion’s café delivers a unique culinary experience with seasonal menus that blend local Bahraini flavors with Japanese ingredients and is crafted by award-winning chef Tala Bashmi.
“The Kingdom of Bahrain national participation explores the resilience and adaptability of sea cultures. The sea is a central component of the Islands of Bahrain, a significance that is shared in Japanese culture and expressed through art, photography, music, and film,” concluded Noura Al Sayeh Holtrop, the Deputy Commissioner General of the Pavilion.
