Osaka Expo 2025 Bulgarian Pavilion

Scalator

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Interiors – Cultural. Education. Heritage. Temporary. Experimental

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Bulgaria

Company Name

Scalator

 

COMPANY COUNTRY:

Bulgaria

ARCHITECTURAL CREDITS

Project Credits: Client: Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) Architect: Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop (KMDW) Interior Architect: arch.Mariya Gospodinova, Scalator Ltd.

Project Team
Management – Iskren Krusteff Main Contractor: Daiwa Lease (Daiwa House Group) Electrical Consultant: Rapport Design Interior Contractor: Design Arc (Daiwa House Group) Digital Exhibition: MP-STUDIO Interior Installation: Philip Jacobson Statues: The Japan Stone Industry Association, Ivan Stoyanov Landscape Design: Veneer House Inc. Consultants: Nikken Sekkei, Lidia Vitanova, Mira Kalanova
CLIENT OR OWNER NAME:

Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency.

Project Name:
Osaka Expo 2025 Bulgarian Pavilion
Project Country:

Bulgaria

Project City:
Osaka, japan
Project Category:
Cultural. Education. Heritage. Temporary. Experimental
Project Area:
250m2
Completion Date:
2025-04-01
Project overview

The Bulgarian Pavilion for EXPO 2025 Osaka fuses architecture, innovation, and culture under “Evolution with Nature,” inspired by bacteria’s collaborative power. Its demountable cord façade creates dynamic transparency. Three zones—“Forest of Wisdom,” “Fruits of the Present,” and “Immersive Future”—show heritage, technology, and a 14K immersive vision. Interactive AI stations collect visitor messages for a six-month “Pay It Forward” exhibit. Budget: 1.7 M USD (including six-month residency).

Project history

Bulgaria returned with its own pavilion to EXPO 2025 in Osaka after a long hiatus, inspired by the success of 1970, when Bulgarian yogurt captivated Japan and gave rise to the “Bulgaria” brand. That connection inspired the “Evolving with Nature” concept, which pays tribute to bacterial collaboration as a model for sustainability and unity. Commissioned at the state level, the project was realized through over two years of joint work between Bulgarian and Japanese experts, who reinforced the friendship between the two countries and combined traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies. Preparations included the production of art installations and multimedia exhibits in Bulgaria, followed by complex logistics and assembly in Osaka. At the opening, visitors marveled at the cord façade, the impressive projections, and the interactive AI “Pay It Forward” platform. More than 80,000 people experienced the exhibition, and the project sparked national pride, strengthened collaborations