Singapore Pavilion, Expo 2025, Osaka Wins at BIG SEE Architecture Award 2026

An immersive showcase of sustainability and innovation that invites audiences to shape a more resilient, inclusive future, Singapore Pavilion, Expo 2025, Osaka has been selected as a winner under the Cultural Buildings category at the BIG SEE Architecture Awards 2026.

Clad in recycled red aluminium discs that are arranged in a pattern referencing the Japanese Seigaiha motif, this 17-metre tall physical manifestation of Singapore’s term of endearment, ‘Little Red Dot’, explores the dynamic interplay between individuality and collectivity through its architectural form while embodying themes of co-creation and environmental awareness. Varying in size, tone and texture, these Dream Discs symbolise diversity within unity, reflecting the shared vision formed by many dreams.

Using modular, sustainable systems, The Dream Sphere minimises environmental impact and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while visitors are invited to journey through an exterior cloudscape which transitions fluidly and unfurls inside The Dream Sphere through accessible pathways, art installations and landscapes. A biophilic Dream Forest within the Pavilion showcases Singapore’s culture and harmony with nature.

Close collaboration between the firm’s multidisciplinary team and specialists in façade, structure and lighting ensured that this ‘sum-of-parts’ façade – where every disc contributes to a larger visual narrative –remains structurally sound and aesthetically cohesive. Designed for assembly and disassembly, these Dream Discs have been repurposed after the Expo through a Japanese author’s picture book museum, giving second life to the materials.

National pavilions at the World Expo play a pivotal role in sharing a country’s ambitions on the global stage, and the Singapore Pavilion, Expo 2025, Osaka demonstrates the power of architecture as a medium to communicate aspirations and champion values of sustainability and inclusivity. Honouring outstanding designs that showcase innovation, functionality, as well as sensitivity in environmental, cultural and social awareness, this award is a testament to the practice’s commitment to well-calibrated interdisciplinary designs that seek to achieve better-than-sustainable outcomes.