Czech pavilion for Expo Osaka will be the tallest wooden building in Japan

Veřovice - The Czech pavilion built for the Expo Osaka 2025 will be the tallest wooden structure of its kind in Japan. Representatives from the Czech side had to convince Japanese authorities during a demanding process that the spirally shaped building can withstand potential natural disasters. This was stated by Ondřej Soška, the general commissioner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, who attended the loading of the first containers with the wooden structure of the Czech national pavilion today at the premises of A2 Timber in Veřovice in the Novojičínsko region.

The pavilion will be constructed from glued wooden elements and so-called CLT panels. These are wooden panels made up of several glued layers, which are arranged perpendicularly for better strength. The wooden structure will be supplemented with glass. However, in Japan, there are stricter norms and limited heights for wooden buildings, particularly due to the threat of earthquakes.

"We fully respect Japanese regulations and standards. However, we had to convince the Japanese authorities that a wooden structure without the use of steel load-bearing elements is sufficiently strong and robust to withstand potential earthquake shocks or wind forces generated by typhoons. We had to provide laboratory tests of the wood and the connection materials," said Soška.

He mentioned that this is the tallest wooden building in Japan constructed without the use of steel load-bearing elements. "We have been working on this since last April. We communicated with authorities in Osaka and at the government level. We found a way. We really had to provide a large amount of materials. In the end, we succeeded, which we are duly proud of," added Soška.

The supplies of wood to the general contractor for the construction, the Japanese construction company Daisue, are managed by A2Timber, which focuses on larger wooden constructions made from glued wooden materials. Production director Martin Povala stated that around 1000 m³ of wood will be used for the construction of the pavilion. This wood is transported by trucks from their production hall and other locations in the Czech Republic to Hamburg, from where it will then continue by ship to Japan.

"The first wood we are sending today should arrive in Osaka by the end of August. Further containers will follow. Construction work is expected to start in mid-September. By mid-December, we should hand over the baton to our colleagues, who will apply glazing to our spiral," said Povala. The first seven of a total of about 50 containers are now departing from the Czech Republic.

The wood is being prepared at various locations in the Czech Republic. The harvested logs are processed into glued laminated timber, CLT panels, and more. Some parts go to the A2Timber facility in Veřovice, where they are further processed. They are equipped with connection elements and any necessary coatings are applied. "If necessary, part of the structure will also be assembled in the hall and then disassembled. This assembly and subsequent disassembly process will be performed for complicated roof structures, for example, to ensure that everything fits together on site and can be assembled without major issues," added the spokesperson for the Czech participation, Jana Kohoutová.

The Czech Republic is participating in the World Expo EXPO for the sixth time as an independent country. Since September 2022, Ondřej Soška has served as the general commissioner. The Czech Republic will present itself in Osaka not only with things that the Japanese are very familiar with and have long admired, such as Czech glass and classical music, but especially with Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising start-ups, and talents from the regions.