PRESS RELEASE
Sustainable architecture for Expo 2025 in Japan: The pavilion for Uzbekistan designed by ATELIER BRÜCKNER received Gold at the German Design Award in the category ‘Excellent Architecture - Fair and Exhibition’. The theme of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, is ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. Uzbekistan will be present at the Expo with a ‘Garden of Knowledge’. The pavilion symbolises a new era in the Central Asian state and stands for growth and future prospects. The design of the pavilion is dedicated to the principle of sustainability through the use of natural materials and a modular construction method. The pavilion’s exhibition highlights Uzbekistan's rich history, offering insights into science, innovation and the transformation of the state. The project was commissioned by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).
"We are thrilled to have been awarded Gold at the German Design Award for our pavilion for Uzbekistan, one of three significant projects we are realising for the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation" says Shirin Frangoul-Brückner, Managing Director of ATELIER BRÜCKNER. "This accolade underscores the significance of sustainable architecture and innovative design that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. The 'Garden of Knowledge' pavilion serves not only as a symbol of Uzbekistan's promising future but also as a meaningful contribution to fostering a responsible and sustainable society. Through its modular, resource-efficient design and the fusion of history, culture, and innovation, it inspires change that extends far beyond the scope of Expo 2025."
Gayane Umerova, chairperson of the ACDF, says: “Uzbekistan has long been a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of great civilizations, where scientific and cultural knowledge flourished along the Silk Road. Our work with ATELIER BRÜCKNER for the Pavilion at Expo 2025 celebrates Uzbekistan's unique heritage, steeped in the timeless architecture of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent's modernist gems, while embracing a bold vision for the future. Receiving the Gold award is a significant milestone for the Art and Culture Development Foundation; it underscores our mission to preserve, promote, and nourish Uzbekistan's cultural landscape on the global stage. This is an exciting time for our country, as we look forward to sharing our 'Garden of Knowledge' with the world in Osaka.”
The German Design Award-winning design epitomises traditional Uzbek craftsmanship, transformed into contemporary architecture. The floor plan of the pavilion has a triangular shape and is inspired by the ‘tumar’, the traditional amulet of Central Asian peoples. The tumar is much more than a piece of jewelry – it embodies protection, spirituality and cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in the history and traditions of Central Asia.
The two-story pavilion with an area of around 750 square metres, shows a section of the archetypal Uzbek landscape. The brick and clay base element represents the earth, the roots, the cultural heritage of the country. The airy, 8-metre-high wooden sculpture stands for the forest: it is both a shelter and a place for the exchange of knowledge. The forest of columns is a reference to traditional temple and palace construction, in which columns are used as a space-defining element in the style of arcades. The timber construction is open on all sides and at the top. Depending on the perspective, the varied overlapping of the wooden columns and beams constantly creates new patterns and ornaments for the viewer, a reference to ornamentation as an important part of Uzbek culture. Surrounding the Expo site is a walkable ring, offering a bird's-eye view of the pavilion. From this perspective, the wooden sculpture of the roof becomes the pavilion's fourth façade.
The open, transparent and barrier-free design of the pavilion leaves room for ideas and developments, showing openness in all directions. All visitors are invited to participate in the current transformation of the nation and experience the process of shaping Uzbekistan's future.
The materials used – wood, clay and brick – are natural, reusable materials borrowed from Uzbek tradition in the spirit of a circular economy – interpreted in a modern and contemporary way. At the conclusion of the world exhibition, these materials will be fully reintegrated to the biological or technical cycle. The wooden sculpture can be dismantled into modular units and reused. Visitors can also track the origin of each tree trunk using their smartphone: Labelled with a tracker, it provides information on where the tree was felled. All of the wood, sugi, a native cypress plant, comes from regional cultivation near Osaka.
Notes to Editors
About the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF)
The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) preserves, promotes and nurtures Uzbekistan’s heritage, arts and culture. Positioned at the forefront of Uzbekistan’s cultural development, ACDF is committed to fostering the cultural ecosystem of the country, driving the creative economy, and providing opportunities for practitioners on a local, regional and global stage. ACDF believes that culture and heritage are vital in shaping society, uniting communities, bridging generations, and facilitating cross-cultural conversations. In Tashkent, ACDF has successfully led the fourth edition of the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) (2-4 October 2024) and currently spearheads the renovation of the Centre for Contemporary Art; the construction of the new State Museum of Arts designed by Tadao Ando, and the restoration and partial reconstruction of the Palace of the Grand Duke of Romanov. In Bukhara, ACDF is launching the first Bukhara Biennial in 2025.
www.acdf.uz
About Gayane Umerova
Gayane Umerova is dedicated to developing the culture sector in Uzbekistan. As Deputy Head of the Department of Social Development of the Presidential Administration and Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), Gayane Umerova is at the helm of building Uzbekistan’s cultural infrastructure. Her efforts are bringing the nation’s art, artists, and cultural heritage into the global spotlight. Currently, she is overseeing the restoration and development of the Centre for Contemporary Art in Tashkent, poised to become a new cultural hub for the region, and is the commissioner of the 2025 Bukhara Biennial (5 September - 20 November). She has hosted the World Conference on Creative Economy in October 2024, is driving the construction of the new State Museum of Arts designed by Tadao Ando and is commissioner for Uzbekistan’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka among other significant projects. Committed to boosting Uzbekistan’s prominence on the international culture scene, Umerova serves as the Chairperson of the National Commission of Uzbekistan on UNESCO Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers and was the commissioner of the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2021. Her public service commitment is evident in her dedication to creating opportunities for young people in Uzbekistan’s cultural sector and fostering a cultural economy that unites communities and generations.