PASONA NATUREVERSE is a steel-frame pavilion, 43 metres wide and two storeys high, designed for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Its form is inspired by the spiral of ammonites that first emerged some 400 million years ago. Visitors trace a spiral route, experiencing a space at the intersection of macro scales (the timeline of evolution) and micro scales (the primordial sea as the womb). Since 2008, Pasona Group has been promoting regional revitalisation on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. The project uses Awaji Island as a model case and is positioned as a milestone towards the realisation of NATUREVERSE – a truly prosperous world where people, nature, and technology coexist, and where people are connected by a spirit of compassion. After the Expo, the pavilion is being relocated to Awaji Island to accelerate this future vision.

By employing a thin water film on the roof for surface cooling and rainwater circulation, dependence on fossil fuels is minimised; the structure is composed of approximately 6,000 ball-jointed truss elements, enabling disassembly and reassembly. Through relocation and reuse, the pavilion aims to realise a poetic yet practical ‘second life’, fostering renewed gratitude for life among visitors.

The concept of the pavilion: “Thank You, Life”

About Pasona Group

Since its founding, Pasona Group has been committed to its clear corporate philosophy of providing “Solutions to Society’s Problems.” The company has promoted diversity and built various forms of social infrastructure aimed at creating a society where everyone can freely choose their desired work and have access to employment opportunities.

Pasona Group's work is “to harness the potential of the individual”, which means creating a fulfilling life for people – as a “Life Producer”. The company believes that our corporate social responsibility (CSR) lies in “Always striving with high aspirations to create a society where those seeking to reintegrate into society, those who seek the challenges of a new life, and those who boldly pursue their life goals can all design a rich life according to their individual lifestyles.”

To fulfil this social responsibility, the company has established the Pasona Group Corporate Action Charter, which is clearly communicated, understood, and shared by all executives and employees across all Pasona entities worldwide, from top management down.

Through relocation and reuse, PASONA NATUREVERSE aims to realise a poetic yet practical 'second life'

Exterior view of PASONA NATUREVERSE at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Image credit: BIE

Pasona Group shall further enhance its corporate value for all stakeholders through pursuit of the roles and responsibilities outlined in the Pasona Way philosophy, by actively tackling rapidly changing social issues, and through Pasona Group’s efforts to realise the SDGs.

As a social solutions company, Pasona Group will continue to engage in sound corporate activities with social responsibility, aiming to realise a 'NATUREVERSE'-based society that creates fulfilling lives for people.

About our regional solution initiatives on Awaji Island

Pasona Group is taking on the challenge of new job creation by attracting human resources to rural areas. The aim is to revitalise regional industry by bringing together people with diverse talents. By cooperating with local governments and businesses, Pasona Group is working on regional revitalisation to facilitate the sustainable development of rural communities across Japan, based on the themes of relocation to regional areas, employment support, Japanese culture, history, food, and health.

Starting with the establishment of our Challenge Farm in 2008 with the aim of invigorating the agricultural industry and providing support to new farmers, Pasona Group is driving regional revitalisation on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. We have developed industries related to culture, arts, health, food, education, etc. to attract people and created substantial employment on the island. Moreover, we established facilities by utilising local resources and promote the appeal of Awaji Island through a variety of events, thereby attracting many visitors from inside and outside Japan.

The pavilion concept

Pasona Group aims to realise “NATUREVERSE (NATURE x UNIVERSE)”, a truly prosperous world where people, nature, and technology coexist, and where people are connected by a spirit of compassion while working on regional revitalisation initiatives such as on Awaji Island. With the aim of sharing “NATUREVERSE” with people from all over the world visiting Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Pasona Group exhibited the pavilion “PASONA NATUREVERSE” under the concept “Thank You, Life”.

Pasona Group's job is to harness the potential of the individual.
We aim to help build a society in which everyone can flourish
in good health and vibrance

“Thank You, Life”

We want to create a world where life is respected; a world enveloped in gratitude for life, from children to the elderly, among all people across the world.

Our society is a part of the natural world, and humanity's continued existence is thanks to nature. However, at some point, we began to take nature for granted.
Have we forgotten to be grateful?
Giving thanks to each other, to the rich blessings bestowed upon humanity by nature, and for the fact that we are alive right now. We want to create a new world in which these expressions of thanks resonate and are passed down to the next generation.

We hope that people from all over the world will visit our pavilion
and become future creators of a world which reverberates with gratitude,
and work with us to create the "NATUREVERSE" (Nature x Universe).
This is the hope of Pasona Group.

Architectural concept: from spiral geometry to Life

Design intention of the spiral

The starting point of PASONA NATUREVERSE’s architecture lies in the spiral geometry common to mollusc shells. Flourishing for over 550 million years, shells have exhibited diverse forms. Ammonites, which appeared around 400 million years ago, symbolise the long history and continuity of biological evolution. A spiral is a curve that extends without closure, inscribing temporal traces and embodying a self-similar dynamism. The architectural plan focuses on this mathematical and biological order, seeking both formal guidance and a symbolic expression of ‘life’.

Thematic setting: from the primordial sea to the future

Following the spiral route, visitors are led from the evolutionary timeline to the sensorial impression of the womb. Variations in ceiling height, graded light, and tuned acoustics induce a psychological transition from exterior to interior, from macro to micro. Standing at the spiral’s centre evokes an unbroken inheritance – the astonishing sequence of transformations handed down since the first life on Earth – and becomes an occasion to reconsider the meaning of ‘life’ today.

The starting point of PASONA NATUREVERSE's architecture lies in the spiral geometry common to mollusc shells

The spiral shape of PASONA NATUREVERSE was inspired by ammonites. Image: All Rights Reserved

Position within the Expo context

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai integrated technological innovation, social inclusion, and sustainability. Within this context, PASONA NATUREVERSE was conceived as a place to share “NATUREVERSE”, the truly prosperous world where people, nature, and technology coexist, and where people are connected by a spirit of compassion, under the corporate philosophy of “Solutions to Society’s Problems”. Its post-Expo relocation advances the concept into implementation on Awaji Island.

Design philosophy and technical innovation: building in circulation and adaptation

Structural strategy: divisible ball-jointed truss

To create the free-form surface evocative of an ammonite while ensuring buildability and relocatability, the primary structure adopts a ball-jointed truss. Approximately 6,000 components allow high-precision fabrication offsite and rapid assembly onsite, achieving modularity suitable for disassembly, transport, and reassembly after the Expo. Connection details balance repeatability and durability, with specifications resilient to repeated tightening and release.

  • Geometric rationality: truss layouts following the spiral surface visualise load paths and act as a double skin with the curved cladding.
  • Constructability: member numbering and assembly sequencing are managed via BIM, ensuring traceability; repairs and replacements are facilitated at module level.
  • Disassembly: standardised fasteners enable planned dismantling without reliance on special tools or extensive craft expertise.

Approximately 6,000 components allow high-precision fabrication offsite and rapid assembly onsite

A divisible ball-jointed truss was adopted for the pavilion's structure. Image credit: Archiphoto Co. Ltd.

Environmental design: roof water film cooling and water circulation

To minimise fossil-fuel dependence while maintaining comfort, a hybrid strategy of evaporative latent heat and surface cooling is implemented by running a thin water film over the roof. Lower roof temperatures under strong insolation reduce cooling loads; circulated spray and rainwater are reused for non-potable purposes. Shallow collection ribs support gravity flow with pump assistance, contributing to peak power reduction.

  • Effect of the roof water film: reduced surface temperature suppresses thermal storage in the roof void, decreasing envelope heat gains and enabling downsizing of HVAC systems.
  • Water circulation: combining rainwater storage with appropriate filtration ensures safe supply for non-potable uses.

Routing and experience: crossing macro and micro

Spiral promenade

Visitors are guided by densifying columns, curving walls, and converging light to the spiral centre, producing a sense of temporal movement and spatial convergence. Beyond sight, acoustic control (reverberation) and tactile finishes (thermal feel) are integrated to support a multi-sensory return to the ‘primordial sea’.

The Tree of Life installation symbolised the evolution of life. Image credit: Archiphoto Co. Ltd.

Exhibitions and contents

The exhibition comprises three zones – Life, Body, and Mind/Bonds.

  • History of Life Zone, centered around “The Tree of Life Evolution” 
    The History of Life Zone features a large tree-shaped monument representing the evolution of life. The trunk's interior is adorned with layers depicting the history of evolution, the trunk and roots extend below the ground to represent deep history, and branches extending from the trunk represent the infinite possibilities of the future. Atop the tree, visitors can catch a glimpse of one such future of the world. The exhibit expresses the possibilities of the power that humans hold, the magnificence of the power of nature, and the dynamics of evolution.
  • Body Zone, centered around “iPS Heart Exhibition”
    An iPS Heart is exhibited at the pavilion, cultivated with living cells using iPS-cell-derived iPS myocardial (cardiac muscle) sheets, which have already been practically implemented in the field. It is a solid, three-dimensional heart created with living cells using biomaterials and bioengineering. By exhibiting the actual pulse of an iPS Heart in culture fluid, Pasona Group broadcasts the possibilities of new technologies that are building the future of medicine and the future of life.
  • Mind/Bonds Zone, centered around “NATUREVERSE Show”
    The NATUREVERSE show displays a truly rich world where nature and technology coexist and people are connected with compassion. It brings the experience of a world where we appreciate the abundant blessings that nature provides us with, and where “Thank yous” resonate with each other.

The iPS Heart exhibited in the pavilion's Body Zone. Image credit: Shiro Honda

Relocation process: dismantling and reassembly

Dismantling plan: segmentation that protects memory

Planned from the design stage, the dismantling process prepares for the structure’s post-Expo relocation. The ball-jointed truss accommodates segmentation into around 6,000 parts to satisfy size constraints during transport and storage. The protection of joints, damage inspection, labelling, and packing are standardised via BIM-linked manuals, minimising variability in field decisions.

  • Traceability: unique IDs link each member to its location in the 3D model.
  • Quality control: three-stage inspections (post-dismantling, post-transport, pre-assembly) check fatigue, corrosion, and coating.
  • Safety: load redistribution during dismantling is pre-calculated; temporary shoring prevents local buckling.

Reassembly: adapting to a second place

Reassembly maximises reuse while optimising for Awaji Island’s climate, topography, and community use. Foundation types are selected for ground conditions; anti-corrosion and drainage are strengthened against salt exposure. Rebalancing orientation and openings invite dialogue with sea winds, solar radiation, and views – an adaptation that gains a new identity resonant with place rather than a mere copy.

Astro Boy served as the mascot of PASONA NATUREVERSE. Image credit: BIE / Tezuka Productions

Second life: culture and community on Awaji Island

In memory of the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake

Awaji Island holds the memory of the 1995 Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake. Recovery has meant not only physical rebuilding but also long journeys of emotional restoration. Since its founding, Pasona Group has also been engaged in disaster relief efforts based on its corporate philosophy of “Solutions to Society's Problems.” When the disaster occurred in 1995, we established the “Pasona Group Disaster Relief Headquarters” in our Osaka Headquarters. The “Kobe Recovery Project” was launched with the aim of quickly rebuilding the disaster-stricken area and creating jobs. Support activities were carried out with the aim of creating 50,000 jobs over five years. Welcoming PASONA NATUREVERSE to Awaji Island implies that the pavilion reuse forms part of a narrative of remembrance and renewal. The spiral form embodies a life trajectory that grows despite scars, assuming a new role as a symbol of healing and hope.

Reassembly maximises reuse while optimising for Awaji Island's climate, topography, and community use

Continuity as a site of ammonite fossils

The southern part of Awaji Island contains the Izumi Group from the Late Cretaceous, long known for marine fossils including ammonites. Accumulated reports of index species and site descriptions confirm occurrences at multiple locations along the peninsula’s south.
The pavilion’s form converses with layered geological time – compressed ancient memory – interweaving architecture into a continuum of geography, geology, and culture. Crossing palaeontology, geography education, and art, programmes invite children and visitors to experience relationships between Earth history and human activity.

NATUREVERSE and the pavilion’s role

Since 2008, Pasona Group has developed facilities, employment, and programmes across culture, food, and health on Awaji Island, centred on attracting people and talent. These are ongoing efforts towards the realisation of NATUREVERSE, the truly prosperous world where people, nature, and technology coexist, and where people are connected by a spirit of compassion, and the Expo pavilion serves as a platform to share this ethos globally.

The pavilion’s relocation after the Expo accelerates this vision, extending a field of implementation where ‘work, learning, and play’ intersect.

ZENBO SEINEI, Pasona Group (Awaji Island, Hyogo), part of Pasona Group's island-wide cultural, food and wellness initiatives. Image: All Rights Reserved

Sustainability: from environmental strategy to a culture of circulation

Environmental value of continued use

Environmental impact is assessed across the lifecycle – materials, construction, operation, and dismantling. Relocation and reuse extend the carbon lock-in of existing components and curb emissions associated with demolition waste. Even if transport consumes energy, long-term operation yields significant net reductions.

Design of circular economy

From the outset, dismantlability and updatability are embedded: modularity, standardisation, reversible joints, and a limited material palette activate circular design across construction, operation, and renewal.

Relocation and reuse extend the carbon-lock-in of existing components and curb emissions associated with demolition waste

Social sustainability

Performance alone does not complete environmental design; circulation relies on human activity. On Awaji Island, diverse facilities and programmes in the areas of food, culture, and health expand exchange between the population in line with the concept of NATUREVERSE, which creates bonds between people. The reuse of the pavilion fosters new models of education, employment, and tourism.

Wider considerations: legacies of temporary architecture

Implications for urban regeneration

Although Expo pavilions are temporary, limited duration does not mean limited value. Designing for relocatability enables temporary architecture to catalyse urban regeneration – occupying surplus land and vacant facilities, nurturing culture and community formation, and connecting functions that should persist to subsequent phases.

Cultural continuity and the editing of memory

The spiral resonates with the act of editing memory. Past events – earthquakes, industrial shifts, local narratives – are not erased but continue by being recontextualised. Architecture is not a container that stores memory; it is a stage where memory is replayed. Relocation and reuse reconstruct meaning as they reassemble matter.

Educational value: learning as lived experience

Standing at the centre of the spiral, one embodies the continuity of life. Gratitude for life is not an abstraction but arises from being present; architecture acts as a catalyst for learning communities.

Architecture is not a container that stores memory; it is a stage where memory is replayed

The NATUREVERSE show was the final act of the pavilion's visitor experience. Image: All Rights Reserved

Conclusion: the spiral continues

PASONA NATUREVERSE anchors its form in spiral geometry and presents the continuity of life as an embodied experience. Roof water film cooling and water circulation minimise fossil-fuel dependence while maintaining comfort. The ball-jointed truss of roughly 6,000 elements enables disassembly and reassembly, with post-Expo relocation to Awaji Island. Linked to earthquake memory and ammonite fossil contexts, the pavilion becomes a community hub in its second life. Practical environmental strategy and poetic reuse together indicate a renewed role for architecture in a circular society.

Moreover, the pavilion is a milestone within the NATUREVERSE; relocation accelerates implementation in the region. The spiral does not close – it continues. Architecture, too, lives on in time.

Makiya Nambu joined Pasona Inc. in 2013 and served as Head of the Global Business Division from 2018. In 2025, he was appointed Director and Executive Vice President of Pasona Group Inc. He is responsible for Pasona Group's overseas strategy and the Awaji Future Vision initiative.

Satoshi Itasaka (thedesignlabo.co.jp) is the architect of PASONA NATUREVERSE. After working at Kidosaki Architects Studio, he established his studio The Design Labo Co., Ltd. in 2012 to engage in creative activities across fields such as architectural and product design.

This article was first published in the 2026 edition of the BIE Bulletin entitled “Architecture in motion: the second life of Expo pavilions".

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