The Grand Ring, a monumental architectural feature for Expo 2025 Osaka, has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest wooden structure in the world. The certification ceremony took place on March 4 at the Expo site on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka.
Covering an expansive area of over 61,000 square meters (approximately 656,000 square feet), the wooden ring roof stands as the centerpiece of the upcoming World Expo. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the Grand Ring is considered the “symbol” of Expo 2025.
Architect Sou Fujimoto, who designed the structure, emphasized the project’s core message of “unity in diversity.” In his remarks during the ceremony, Fujimoto expressed his hope that the Grand Ring would serve as a symbol of connection in a world that is increasingly divided.
The massive circular structure boasts an outer diameter of 675 meters and a circumference of 2 kilometers. At its highest point, it reaches a height of 20 meters.
Construction of the Grand Ring involved the use of approximately 27,000 cubic meters of timber, sourced from both domestic materials—such as Japanese cypress and cedar—and European red pine. The structure was officially completed on February 27.
You Might Be Interested In:
