Japan's Great Ring, world's largest wooden structure, faces demolition after expo

Osaka, Japan – The Great Ring, a monumental wooden structure built for Expo 2025, has earned a Guinness World Record as the world's largest wooden construction. Spanning nearly two kilometers in circumference and covering over 61,000 square meters, the structure was a central feature of the expo, connecting pavilions and managing visitor flow.

The impressive design, featuring an exterior diameter of 675 meters and a width of 30 meters, incorporated the traditional Japanese nuki construction technique. This method uses interlocking wooden beams without visible nails or screws, adapted here with strategic metal reinforcements for seismic stability. The project utilized 27,000 cubic meters of wood, primarily local cedar and cypress, with some imported pine.

However, the future of the Great Ring is contentious. While designed with sustainability in mind, its temporary nature has led to a political and environmental dilemma. Following the expo's closure, dismantling began, with plans to preserve only about 10% of the structure. Architect Sou Fujimoto expressed strong opposition to the potential incineration of the remaining wood, calling it "the worst thing to do."

Local officials have suggested repurposing some of the wood for public housing reconstruction after recent earthquakes. Yet, the fate of the vast majority of this record-breaking wooden marvel remains uncertain, sparking debate about waste and the value of temporary architectural achievements.