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Architects asked to design Polish pavilion for Expo 2025

07.11.2022 22:30
The Polish government has announced an international competition for the design of Poland’s national pavilion for the 2025 World Expo exhibition in Japan.
Audio
The Polish government has announced an international competition for the design of Polands national pavilion for the 2025 World Expo exhibition in Japan.
The Polish government has announced an international competition for the design of Poland’s national pavilion for the 2025 World Expo exhibition in Japan.Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The event will be held in Osaka in less than three years, and Poland last month signed an agreement to become one of its participants, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) has said. 

In preparation for Expo 2025, PAIH has joined forces with the Polish Architects’ Association to select the design for the national pavilion. 

Firms of architects have until November 24 to submit their initial offers, reporters were told. 

For Poland, taking part in such major global business and cultural events offers an opportunity to "enhance the country’s image on the world stage" and establish new business contacts, with the national pavilion serving as Poland’s calling card, PAIH said. 

Polish pavilion at Expo 2020

At last year's Expo 2020 in Dubai, the Polish pavilion attracted much interest and praise from visitors; it also won multiple awards, including the Silver Prize in the mid-sized pavilion category in a prestigious contest held by the Expo organisers, the Bureau International des Expositions, according to officials.

PAIH CEO Krzysztof Drynda told reporters: “We are delighted with the success of the Polish pavilion at the Dubai World Expo. Its popularity was reflected in the massive number of visitors and the numerous prestigious awards we have received. Hopefully we’ll be able to repeat this success in Japan.”

The Polish pavilion at Expo 2020 in the United Araba Emirates was designed by Warsaw-based architectural firm WXCA.

Marta Sękulska-Wrońska, a partner at the Warsaw firm, said it was “an extraordinary honour” and “a unique challenge” to design Poland’s national pavilion for the global exhibition. She added that "representing one’s country on the international stage is every architect’s dream and pride.”

Contest for design of Polish Expo 2025 pavilion

Meanwhile, the contest to design Poland's pavilion for Expo 2025 in Osaka is being held in the so-called Flemish Format, officials said.

In stage one, companies are asked to submit general offers, which will be assessed by a seven-member jury composed of SARP and government officials.

Next, contestants will outline their designs for the Polish pavilion during a series of workshops, PAIH said. 

The jury will then shortlist three to five firms for stage two. The designs are expected to effectively combine the idea behind Poland’s presence at world exhibitions with original and innovative technological and architectural solutions, according to officials. 

The winner will be selected from among the shortlisted companies, PAIH said. 

The shortlisted firms will each receive PLN 10,000 (EUR 2,100) for their proposals. In addition, the three best designs will be rewarded with a total of PLN 100,000 (EUR 21,000) in prize money, reporters were told.   

More information about the contest for the design of the Polish pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka is available at the sarp.pl website.

pm/gs

Source: PAIH, 1031.konkurs.sarp.pl

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Danuta Isler.