ON, an international provider of audiovisual solutions with operational hubs in Brazil and Portugal, was entrusted with the full AV integration and daily operation of the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, a standout cultural and technological space, which has already welcomed over 500,000 visitors. The Pavilion, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, explores the theme “The Ocean: The Blue Dialogue” through immersive storytelling, interactive installations, and large-scale projections.

ON was contracted by Rimond SRL, the general contractor for the project, to deliver the complete AVL infrastructure for the Portugal Pavilion — covering everything from equipment acquisition and system design to installation, integration, and daily operation throughout the six-month event. Their scope included projection systems (walls, floors, interactive surfaces, and a custom-built minidome), architectural and scenic lighting, multichannel sound systems, LED installations, touchscreen displays, and centralized control automation.

As the Pavilion is entirely driven by audiovisual content, the seamless integration and reliability of these systems were critical. A team of 8 professionals from ON worked on-site in Osaka, collaborating closely with local Japanese teams and Portuguese partners to meet tight deadlines and navigate challenges. The conceptual development and exhibition design were led by MUSE – Museums & Expos, a company specialized in curating museum and cultural projects.

Immersive Journey Powered by AVL

The Pavilion spans 1,836 m² and combines open-air architecture with a carefully orchestrated interior flow, where audiovisual technology acts as an invisible guide, shaping atmosphere, rhythm, interaction, and emotional impact at every step. From the first moment outside to the final immersive space, the visitor journey is a seamless traversal of history, culture, sustainability, and maritime exploration—all narrated through AVL.

Inside the Pavilion, the experience begins in the Waiting Area, where a multichannel soundscape envelops visitors in the sonic atmosphere of ocean waves and winds, created by composer Diogo Alvim. This ambient audio, delivered through discreet weatherproof loudspeakers, marks the first act of a journey where AVL becomes storytelling.

The next space, known as Room 1, is a darkened environment organized around five thematic “islands,” each offering a different layer of interpretation through light, projection, image, and sound.

A highlight is the Minidome installation, featuring a hemispherical projection surface animated with navigational maps and animated cartography. To achieve this, ON commissioned a custom fisheye lens manufactured with a bespoke optical solution that allows a single Epson EB-L730U projector to cover the entire dome with uniform image quality and no visible distortion. The lens ensures image fidelity from every angle and eliminates the need for complex multi-projector setups. The result is a continuous, realistic visual experience that reinforces Portugal’s maritime legacy through innovative AV engineering.

Other islands include interactive 86” multi-touchscreen displays (Sharp PN-LA862) with content on marine biodiversity and technology; embedded Iiyama monitors designed to mimic Japanese byōbu screens; and an audio-light installation that explores linguistic parallels between Portuguese and Japanese using LED-synced words and directional sound. The system also incorporates Brightsign XD4 players to drive synchronized video playback.

Five Optoma ZK708T 4K DLP laser projectors provide ambient environmental visuals throughout Room 1. All of Room 1 is tied together by a LED ribbon integrated within the islands and a surround audio system built with Audac loudspeakers and Prolights fixtures, creating a cohesive audiovisual envelope. The technical rack includes GrandMA3 lighting controllers and Watchout 6 media servers, forming the backbone of the control system.

The journey continues into Room 2, the Pavilion’s immersive climax. Here, 16 Barco G62-W9 laser projectors, combined with a Watchout 3D-modeled content engine, create a fully enveloping animated underwater landscape across curved walls and floor. This room, with surround sound and kinetic lighting, invites the visitor to sit on the ground and absorb a sensory narrative about sustainability and the future. It is a contemplative, emotionally resonant experience that many visitors repeat. AVL here acts as both guide and narrator, seamlessly integrating visual, auditory, and spatial cues.

Beyond the exhibition, ON also equipped the restaurant, terrace, shop, and multipurpose room, providing ambient audio and versatile AV setups for concerts, film screenings, diplomatic receptions, and cultural events. The Multipurpose Room includes dual Barco projectors, Shure microphone systems, live streaming equipment, simultaneous interpretation infrastructure, Panasonic PTZ cameras, and Bose L1 Pro 16 sound systems, as well as Roland V-60 and Behringer X32 mixers, and laptops running Resolume and Vmix software for video control and real-time projection.

All audiovisual equipment was acquired brand-new in Portugal specifically for the Expo and shipped to Japan in more than 20 pallets, totaling around 4 tons. The entire system was customized and built to meet both Portuguese and Japanese technical standards.

Sustainability was a guiding principle throughout the AV system design. All lighting systems use high-efficiency LED technology, and projection relies on laser-based systems that consume significantly less energy than traditional lamps. Equipment such as Audac amplifiers and Epson and Barco projectors were selected for energy efficiency and long lifecycle, reducing waste and power demand. Modular mounts and racks were chosen for future reuse, and Japanese recycling protocols were followed for packaging and installation waste.

From Operations to Legacy: A Benchmark Project for ON

Throughout the project, ON had to respond to challenges well beyond AVL: adapting mounting structures, modifying scenography, handling equipment delays, and communicating across three languages and cultures. Their team remained on-site for final commissioning and continues to operate and maintain all systems daily.

The Portugal Pavilion’s AVL system is not just a support mechanism—it is the spine of the experience. Technology flows intuitively with the visitor’s path, engaging the senses and transforming the Pavilion into a fluid emotional narrative. The AVL system becomes an active agent of storytelling, guiding each phase of the visit as a symbolic navigation through culture, memory, and innovation.

“This project was not only a technical challenge, but also a defining moment for us as a company,” said Hugo Rodrigues, CEO of ON. “It validated our ability to deliver highly customized, complex AV solutions in an international environment, working hand in hand with foreign teams under demanding operational and cultural standards. We’re proud not only of what we delivered, but of how we earned trust, solved problems, and became a trusted part of a multicultural team delivering an ambitious and impactful experience.”

ON collaborated directly with Rimond SRL to ensure that the audiovisual systems not only met technical requirements but were also seamlessly integrated into Kuma’s architectural vision. The result is a cohesive, sensorial experience where technology and space are fully aligned.

Since opening, the Portugal Pavilion has been visited by more than 500,000 people, drawing praise for its immersive design and unique sensory narrative. The success of the Pavilion has already led to ON being entrusted with additional live support duties and invited to collaborate on other future international efforts. With Expo 2025 as a milestone, the company now looks ahead with confidence to new global projects, backed by proven experience in innovation, collaboration, and delivery at the highest level.