Design Magazine Vol.232 on Sale April 1！

COVER STORY

Tadao Ando  Architect

I believe that emotions are the driving force in life.

The world-renowned architect Tadao Ando is the top-most leading figure in the world of architecture in both fame and achievements. For more than half a century since the founding of Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in 1969, Ando has been creating new value through architecture and activities with unique aesthetics. While handling large-scale projects all over the world, he has been continually involved in such social contributions through architecture as the Children's Book Forest. Ando's stance in broadcasting messages through his exhibitions and lectures clearly distinguishes him from the stereotypical image of an architect. Why is Ando's architecture and words constantly in demand throughout the world? We interviewed him about his projects both within Japan and internationally as well as his life philosophy and what he is thinking about today.

Feature
EXPO 2025―Design takes the lead in the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

The Japan World Exposition 1970 was a major national project, demonstrating Japan's economic power to the world through a showcase of architecture, technology, and art, with the futuristic cityscape designed by Kenzo Tange, the energy of the avant-garde expressed by Tadanori Yokoo, and the ultimate symbol created by Taro Okamoto. About half a century has passed since then―The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, will open its doors with the theme of Designing Future Society for Our Lives. In the past 55 years, Japan has transformed from a booming country to a mature, advanced country. At the same time, it faces an era in which the world as a whole must work together to tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one country or individual. How will design create a future society in 2025? For this featured topic, we explored the significance of the Expo 2025 in the context of the past, present, and future, while also introducing the highlights of the various pavilions and projects.

The Legacy of the Expo: Driven by the energy of co-creation Seiichi Saito x Yuko Nagayama

EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is finally set to open. Seiichi Saito, the Co-Creation Program Director of EXPO 2025, founded the Expo Outcome Design Committee (EODC) in 2021 to explore the significance of the EXPO and the directions it should pursue from a design perspective. Among the EODC is a diverse collective, including architect Yuko Nagayama, who has carried out numerous interdisciplinary discussions with a broad outlook. How has the Expo's main concept, People's Living Lab (PLL: A laboratory for a future society), been brought to life? Saito and Nagayama spoke about their efforts behind the scenes.

Designing the symbol of the Expo――The design and philosophy behind the Grand Ring

The Grand Ring, the defining symbol of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, is not only an ambitious feat as the world's largest wooden structure but also serves as the Expo's spiritual anchor. Sou Fujimoto, the site design producer, envisioned the concept. At the 1970 Osaka Expo, Kenzo Tange's Festival Plaza played this symbolic role, but Fujimoto responds to the present era with a fluid, circular form. Yet, within this seemingly simple ring lies a deeper narrative. Here, Fujimoto shares his thoughts on the design.

Monumental architecture embodying the ideals of digital nature Yoichi Ochiai

"A sculptural architecture with a mirrored transformation mechanism that is worth visiting in the remote era" or "a landscape converter with an unprecedented organic transformation." This is how artist Yoichi Ochiai describes null2, his first largescale architectural project, the Signature Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, for which he is also the thematic project producer. With this pavilion, Ochiai seeks to create an unknown landscape that no one has seen before, and an unknown experience that resembles the reinvention of a mirror. Those who have visited the site or viewed it through its image may agree that this is no exaggeration.

The Host Country Pavilion That Offers a New Perspective on "Circulation": The Japan Pavilion

To tackle a variety of global issues, the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, will bring together wisdom from around the world. This time, approximately 160 countries will participate and showcase their pavilions. Among them, the Japan Pavilion―as the host country's pavilion―is garnering significant attention. We explore its concepts and attractions across its exhibition, architecture, and graphics.

International Pavilions: Shaping Tomorrow Italy, The Netherlands, Kuwait, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Czechia, Philippines, France, Belgium, Nordic Countries

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will host 158 countries and regions along with 7 international organizations, with 64 countries constructing their own pavilions. There is no other event where this many nations' architectural and design expressions come together in a single venue, making it one of the key attractions of the Expo. The following selection of pavilions highlights architecture that incorporates low-impact structures and materials, alongside innovative visitor experience designs blending cutting-edge technology with cultural heritage.

20 Proposals for the Future by Emerging Architects Maki Onishi + Yuki Hyakuda (o+h), Aki Hamada (AHA), Mai Komuro (KOMPAS), Chie Konno (teco)

In the Expo venue, 20 facilities, such as rest areas and galleries, have been designed by 20 architects born after 1980. Each project incorporates experimental ideas as proposals for sustainable architecture that look toward the future. In this article, we explore the future of architecture through the voices of four of these architects.

Exploring the future beyond the Expo Toyo Ito x Yuma Harada

Architect Toyo Ito was involved in the design of the Expo Tower, the symbol of the 1970 Osaka Expo. Designer Yuma Harada recalls growing up seeing the tower from a young age. The two, who are also involved in the upcoming the EXPO 2025, discussed the architecture and designs they have created, the concept of public space, and the future beyond the Expo.

SCOPE

125 Years of Fiat, the Brand That Continues to Design Italy

SERIES

Ambience
Daisuke Yokota
LEADERS
Masaya Chiba (Philosopher, writer)
Global Creators Labs
AKT II Kyoko Nakajima
Sci-Tech File
Exploring the inner depths of flowers
―What determines the destination of pollen!? Keiichiro Fujisaki
From a single piece
OXO Swivel Peeler (1989) Sakura Nomiyama
AFRICAN PRACTITIONERS
Think Tanger (Urban Design Team) Maki Nakata
EYES ON K-DESIGN
House of Choi Yoo Seoung-joo
Takayuki Fukatsu's Back and Forth Chronicles
Legal tech
DESIGN FOR DECISION-MAKING
The power of the "concrete"
―why prototypes matter for constructive dialogue Shunsuke Ishikawa (KESIKI)
TIMELESS INGENUITY
Another aspect of Scandinavian design Chihiro Minato
Exercises in Poetic Engineering
Meaning is imbued after the fact Shohei Takei (nomena)
Viewpoint Monologue
Heteronomy Naoki Ono
192 To perceive the actuality
What's drawn inside. Haruka Misawa
Creators Navi
Studio POETIC CURIOSITY, Anker Bak, Shino Nakamura, PAN-PROJECTS, KUO DUO

AXIS Media Membership
Design Magazine AXIS 　Back number