The Grand Ring, Expo 2025 Osaka
The largest wooden architectural structure in the world, as recognized by Guinness World Records, is The Grand Ring designed for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
- Designer: Sou Fujimoto Architects.
- Location: Yumeshima island, Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
- Record Size: It covers a gross floor area of 61,035 square metres.
- Dimensions: The structure forms a continuous ring with an approximate circumference of 2 kilometers, a width of around 30 meters, and a height varying between 12 and 20 meters.
- Construction and Materials: This monumental roofed walkway is a gridded timber shell structure, primarily utilizing Japanese cedar and cypress. It showcases traditional Japanese wood joinery techniques, known as "kumimono," which in many parts avoid the use of metal fasteners, relying on intricately cut interlocking wooden components.
- Purpose: The Grand Ring will serve as the main circulation path and a prominent symbol for the Expo 2025 site. It is designed to provide shelter, unify the diverse pavilions, offer elevated views, and create a communal space, embodying themes of sustainability and connection.
This ambitious project highlights the capabilities of timber in large-scale construction and represents a significant achievement in contemporary wooden architecture, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and engineering.
