Construction of the “Foresting Architecture” started within the Osaka-Kansai Expo site began in August.
September 4, 2024
Takenaka Corporation (President: Masato Sasaki) will provide the Seeds Paper Pavilion, which it has been developing since 2021, as temporary structures that visitors can use to rest and relax in during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (April 13 to October 13, 2025). This will be “Foresting Architecture” for the Future Society Showcase Project (Green Expo). The facilities will be provided within the venue as temporary structures that visitors can use to rest and relax in during the Expo period (April 13 to October 13, 2025).
- *This is a current assumption and is subject to change according to any future technological developments.
About the Seeds Paper Pavilion
The "Seeds Paper Pavilion" was selected as the Grand Prize winner in the "Takenaka Group's Idea Proposal Competition for Pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan," which was held between 2020 and 2021 for employees of the Takenaka Group. The proposal depicted architecture of the future in which the structure created by everyone becomes a seed that will grow into a forest when its use is finished, rather than one that will become waste at the end of its use. The company then established a full-scale technical development system to materialize this idea, and began testing with a large-scale 3D printer at the Takenaka Research & Development Institute in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, in May of last year. In April of this year, we succeeded in a full-scale output test.
About “Foresting Architecture”
The “Seeds Paper Pavilion” will be named the “Foresting Architecture” at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan; and two buildings with a diameter of 4.65 m and a height of 2.95 m will be provided at the venue as temporary structures that can be used for rest (at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan in accordance with Article 85.7 of the Building Standard Law).
The material to be used is CAFBLO, a biodegradable and transparent cellulose acetate resin produced by Daicel (President: Yoshimi Ogawa). The 3D printed material will be used as the structural material, and the exterior will be made of handmade Japanese paper and plants created at various events. This will be the world's largest building made from 3D printed biodegradable resin.
Overview of “Foresting Architecture”
| Location | Expo site, the Ground Plaza |
|---|---|
| Design-Build | Takenaka Corporation |
| Construction Period | August 2024 - April 2025 |
| Scale | Diameter 4.65m, Height 2.95m |
| Number of buildings | 2 buildings |
| Structure | cellulose acetate construction |
| Main Finishing Materials | (Exterior) Paper, plant seeds and seedlings (Interior) Cellulose acetate (Floor) Sanwa soil |
Technical development system for “Foresting Architecture”
For technologies such as 3D printing and exterior planting, we are collaborating with companies specializing in the respective fields to develop these technologies.
Representative Company TAKENAKA CORPORATION
Supporting Companies
| Development and provision of materials | DAICEL CORPORATION https://www.daicel.com/ |
|---|---|
| Provision of 3D printing equipment | S.lab Inc. https://slab.jp/ |
| Component development and supply | Nifco Inc. https://www.nifco.com/ |
| Development and provision of planting technology | Hanshin Engei Co., Ltd. https://www.hanshinengei.co.jp/ |
Cooperating Companies
| 3D Printing Consulting | Boolean Inc. https://booleaninc.biz/ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Planting Implementation Consulting | ESPEC MIC CORP. https://www.especmic.co.jp/ | |
| Planting Technology Development | Asahi Corporation https://www.asahi-ko-san.co.jp/ |
|
| Planting Technology Development | Nishihira Lace/ | |
| Planting Technology Development | NISSEI Co., Ltd. https://www.nissei-net.co.jp/ |
＜Reference＞
Takenaka Corporation Official Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMqvNgHa-vc