EXHBITOR MAGAZINE'S WORLD EXPO AWARDS BEST EXTERIOR DESIGN: GERMANY

DESIGN: Lava, Facts and Fiction GmbH

FABRICATION: GL Events

Building off the Japanese word “wa,” which means both “circle” and “harmony,” Wa! Germany embodied the circular economy. Here, every element from the architecture and garden to its internal narrative explored a sustainable — and circular — cycle.

Praised by jurors as “a clear concept and message that was magically communicated in two letters,” the Germany pavilion was based on an architectural layering effect. The office wing, which served as a structural foundation, acted as the back of house for the organization. Built from a modular steel framework that was repurposed after the expo, the wing was covered with a layer of dirt so that it disappeared below ground and gave birth to a lush garden environment above.

Within the garden, seven timber-clad cylinders rose from the landscape like sculptural forms in motion. Their curved façades, crafted from glue-laminated timber, radiated warmth in a deliberate counterpoint to the hard edges of traditional expo architecture. Each of the seven cylinders, which were disassembled and repurposed after the event, offered a specific purpose — from exhibitions to dining.

Equally powerful was the landscape surrounding the cylinders, which was curated as a temporary but thriving ecosystem. Within it, every plant was borrowed, not bought, as they were sourced from and later returned to an Osaka nursery. Along with these climate-resilient plantings, the environment featured landscaping designed to manage stormwater runoff (aka bioswales) and gravel trenches that demonstrated how water, soil, and vegetation interact regeneratively. Interspersed throughout, interpretive signage transformed the landscape into a learning tool, showing visitors how circular thinking applied as much to ecology as it did to architecture.

Together, the pavilion's structure and garden expressed a holistic vision of sustainability that extended beyond the expo grounds. Wa! Germany proved that circular design isn't just a theory. Rather, it's a realistic experience for those who choose to live responsibly.

By Exhibitor magazine: Linda Armstrong, Sean Carlson, Danelle Dodds, Emily Olson, Nancy Olson, and Charles Pappas