Design by Coldefy and Carlo Ratti celebrates connections between humans & nature

The French Pavilion designed by Tenderstream member Coldefy and Carlo Ratti has opened at the Osaka World Expo 2025, with attendees including foreign trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin, French ambassador to Japan Philippe Setton, and Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura. Accompanied by the design’s creators Thomas Coldefy, Isabel Van Haute, and Carlo Ratti, they participated in the Akai Ito ritual that inspired the Pavilion, which involves passing a red thread from hand to hand. 

The project is in line with the overarching theme of the expo, ‘Empowering Life’. Designed within a circular architectural approach, the pavilion is a ‘red thread’ linking the many aspects of human and natural life. Rising from ground level, the experience begins with a staircase that winds to form an observation balcony, before crossing a curtain threshold to create an infinite loop. This loop allows for a complete exploration of the interior space of the building, encompassing its entire volume, before opening onto the verdant terrace.          

The pavilion’s architecture illustrates how design bridges the gap between the human and non-human worlds on our planet, welcoming nature into our artificial habitats. It suggests new entanglements between humans and other forms of life in our cities and exhibits France’s contribution to culture and the natural environment in the 21st century. The journey culminates on the rooftop, featuring a landscaped garden crowning the building that creates a space of common ground welcoming all living species. As visitors walk through the garden, they take a journey through the various natural landscapes of France, from the mountains to the coast. 

In a time defined by digital estrangement, the design reclaims physical space as a medium for dialogue. Visitors are invited to bring the structure to life, transforming it into a living stage of movement, emotion and discovery. Inside, dazzling light contrasts with darkness, thanks to the immersive scenography of Justine Emard and GSM Project.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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