The project for the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, designed by architect Mario Cucinella, has arrived in London. The presentation, held at the Italian Cultural Institute in the British capital, led by Francesco Bongarrà, featured Ambassador Mario Vattani, Italy’s Commissioner General for Expo 2025, alongside star architect Mario Cucinella, who designed the pavilion. Joining them on stage were Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile in Milan, and design expert Priya Khanchandani.
In a room filled with British and Italian architects and design experts, Ambassador Vattani emphasised the global significance of the Osaka Expo, which will take place from 13 April to 13 October 2025, describing it as “the first truly global event since the end of the pandemic, where Italy will play a key role, both due to the prestige of the occasion and the importance it holds within the strategic relationship between our country and Japan. It will be a showcase of the best Italy has to offer, lasting six months.”
“The Italian Pavilion,” Cucinella highlighted, “is highly sustainable: it is entirely constructed from wood, can be dismantled piece by piece, and each part can be reused elsewhere in the world.”
“Sustainability has also become a key element for the Salone del Mobile,” added Maria Porro, “and it becomes more important every year. Every event at the Salone must now be certified in terms of sustainability. For instance, the use of cardboard has been completely abolished. Furthermore,” Porro continued, “at my company, we strive to limit electricity usage as much as possible: we encourage staff to start work early in the morning and finish in the early afternoon.”
“It is an honour to welcome Mario Cucinella, a world-renowned architect, and Maria Porro, who represents the leading name in global design, to London. I am proud that, here at our Institute, London “knows” the Italian Pavilion for Osaka,” concluded Bongarrà.