SPAIN PAVILION Theme: La Corriente de Kuroshio Size: 3,000 m² Entrant: Sociedad Mercantil Estatal de Acción Cultural S.A., www.accioncultural.es Design: Extudio, Enorme Estudio, Smart & Green Design Fabrication: Murakami General Construction Co. Ltd. Photos: Arch-Exist Photography, William Mulvihill
The Spain pavilion invites visitors on an immersive journey through La Corriente de Kuroshio, a theme inspired by the powerful Pacific current and the historic Manila Galleon trade route. It reflects centuries of cultural exchange between Spain and Asia, embodying the enduring flow of ideas, people, and traditions.
The pavilion highlights Spain’s continued global engagement, especially with Japan and Asia, and its vision for a future shaped by creativity, collaboration, and sustainability.
The pavilion’s arresting façade, inspired by the sea and sun, evokes both the Japanese sunrise and the Spanish sunset — two horizons in constant dialogue. Designed to make a lasting impression even on a brief visit among over 180 pavilions, it combines fluid architecture with a multi-sensory exhibition for an efficient yet emotionally resonant experience.
A gently sloped floor guides visitors through key historical and diplomatic episodes from the early 17th century, including the rescue of the San Francisco Galleon crew off Onjuku and the Keicho Embassy’s journey to Spain. These are connected to the present through portraits of Spanish citizens bearing the surname “Japón” (Japan), a historical legacy of Hasekura Tsunenaga’s delegation.
From this shared past, the exhibition transitions to innovation. Don Quixote’s iconic windmills are reimagined to reflect Spain’s firm commitment to renewable energy, from early wind power to today’s cutting-edge offshore technologies.
After an immersive experience featuring LED lighting and holography, the visit culminates in “Greetings from Spain.” This vibrant installation explores how Spain’s cultural richness captivated the world through tourism postcards in the 1960s and 70s — long before the age of social media.
Around a thousand live performances by Spanish artists, with new acts weekly, energize the pavilion like the Kuroshio current itself. A culinary journey through Spain’s tapas adds a final sensory note.
The pavilion aspires to leave visitors with a profound sense of connection and a deeper understanding of Spain’s commitment to cultural dialogue and global collaboration.
