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Saudi Pavilion Wins Gold for Cultural Architecture at NY Design Awards

Prime Highlights

  • Saudi Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai received Gold Prize for Cultural Architecture in New York Architectural Design Awards.
  • The pavilion, created by Foster + Partners, harmonizes Saudi and Japanese culture with sustainability.

Key Facts

  • More than 500,000 visitors have visited the pavilion to date since April 2024 opening.
  • More than 175 events and 400 VIP delegations were hosted at the center.

Key Background

Saudi Arabia Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai was internationally awarded with the Gold Prize for Cultural Architecture for Interactive and Experiential Spaces at the world-renowned New York Architectural Design Awards. The award acknowledges the way international exposure of the country in sustainable architecture as well as cultural diplomacy keeps increasing all over the world.

It was jointly developed by CEO Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman and Project Manager Fatima Al-Doukhi and the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission and represents the Kingdom’s display of commitment to heritage and innovation. It was designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners, and the building was conceptualized to have coexistence of Saudi and Japanese cultures. The building has a natural airflow passive cooling system, which maximizes energy efficiency at the cost of having no environmental impact.

The overall idea behind the pavilion is sustainability. The pavilion is constructed using low-carbon materials, solar power, and low-carbon lighting. The pavilion is also made accessible by the use of Braille signs and accessible design features in the effort to provide accessibility for disabled people to easily access the exhibitions on their own.

Since it was made public on 13 April 2024, the Saudi Pavilion has been the megahit of the Expo. It received over half a million visitors and served as a platform for hosting over 175 events varying from musical concerts, cultural events, media tours, to business meetings. The pavilion hosted over 400 VIP delegations and is now one of the pearls of cultural diplomacy and international cooperation.

It not just enables Saudi Arabia’s presence around the globe but also fosters that of its record for culture endurance, green technology, and enormous global partnership.