AA DRL alumni Aljosa Dekleva and Tina Gregoric from Dekleva Gregoric Architects win the competition for the Slovenian pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The pavilion positions Slovenia as the green heart of Europe, with a holistic experience of a gentle ascending pathway through the pavilion structure, into the exhibition space and rooftop, where the visitor meets a forest with a unique gastronomic experience.

The design of the pavilion is based on the key principles of circular economy resulting in a significantly reduced carbon footprint. Instead of shipping, building, dismantling and relocating the pavilion, Dekleva Gregoric Architects propose to rent a scaffolding system for the main structure for a limited time of the pavilion’s life. The trees of the temporary forest will be donated to the State of Japan.

Image: The pavilion proposal by Dekleva Gregoric Architects. Image courtesy of Dekleva Gregoric Architects.