Sou Fujimoto’s Giant Timber Ring Roof for Osaka Expo Under Fire
Our world is becoming volatile. People are in difficult situations in different parts of the world. Our future looks so uncertain.
It’s probably not surprising that Japanese are not in a mood to celebrate the Osaka Expo 2025. The country hasn’t recovered from economic setback due to the COVID. Cost of living keeps getting higher and higher.
No one wants to waste money right now. But the Expo eats up money. Initially, the organizer of the Osaka Expo 2025 estimated the cost to be about 1.3 billion dollars. But then, because of the cost increase of construction materials and other things, they revised it twice. It is now about 2.5 billion, which is almost double the original estimate. This is a very poorly managed event especially when taxpayers’ money is used. Of 2.5 billion dollars, Fujimoto’s “Great Ring” is supposed to take up about 350 million. People are upset that a big amount of money has to be spent on a temporary monument that will go away when the event is over.
The “Great Timber Ring Roof” is supposed to be surrounding the venue.
It reminded me of the Japan National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics.
The organizer is facing criticisms. Polls repeatedly show that the majority of people want to cancel the event. But so far, the organizer has been pretty bullish on keeping the boll rolling as planned. However, they took another blow today. Mexico announced to withdraw from the event. Given where the world is at today, it’s possible that other countries will follow Mexico’s decision. If people don’t want the event, and participating countries are withdrawing, why waste taxpayers’ money and talented architects’ time and energy?
Don’t we need to use our precious resources for projects that can solve imminent problems we face today?
