Designing Wellbeing Cities – Nordic Pavilion at Osaka EXPO 2025

On October 2, Nordic partners invite you to the Nordic Pavilion at the Osaka Expo for a full day of cross-cultural exchange.

Japan and the Nordics come together to explore how architecture and urban design can restore what algorithms can not: trust, dignity, and human connection in our cities. Across six sessions, we explore how design can foster wellbeing in its many forms: through wellness, inclusion, connection, belonging, and collaboration. The day concludes with reflections on what we can learn from each other, not by blending traditions, but by building new ways of living, working, and designing across differences.

Why Japan and the Nordics?

Because both regions understand that the soul of a city lies not just in its systems, but in its relationships. In Japan, the concept of Ibasho — a place where one truly belongs — resonates with the Nordic tradition of community, characterized by a commitment to social trust, equality, and collective welfare. These are not just ideals, they are spatial principles, embedded in how we build and live. Join us for a day of insight and inspiration, where two cultures meet to imagine a more compassionate, connected future.

If you’re planning to attend the EXPO and would like to join us, please contact Director of Global Networks and Partnership, Jakob Norman-Hansen via jnh@bloxhub.org