Six Projects Honored at the Japan Membrane Structure Association Awards, Including a Special Award (EXPO 2025)

Taiyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo;Osaka Headquarters: Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City; President and CEO: Yuki Nomura), a company specializing in large-scale membrane structures (tent structures), civil engineering, and logistics materials, has received six awards—including the Membrane Structure Design Award, the Technical Award, and the Special Award (EXPO 2025)—in the awards program organized by the Japan Membrane Structure Association (Chuo Ward, Tokyo).The awards ceremony was held on Monday, June 22, 2026, and our company and its employees received the awards.

The Japan Membrane Structure Association is committed to the sound development of membrane structures through research and studies, the establishment of technical standards, human resource development, and the dissemination of information, with the aim of realizing high-quality membrane structures and promoting their further development and widespread adoption.The Association recognizes outstanding designs that leverage the characteristics of membrane materials and membrane structures, as well as technical and environmental contributions, by presenting annual awards (beginning in 2024) in three categories: the “Membrane Structure Design Award,” the “Technical Award,” and the “Environmental Contribution Award.”Furthermore, as membrane materials and membrane structures are being utilized in numerous buildings and other structures for this year’s Osaka-Kansai World Expo, and given the high expectations for their further dissemination and development in the future, the Association also accepted submissions for the “Special Award (EXPO 2025)” category.

Our company received awards for six projects in the categories of the Membrane Structure Design Award, the Technology Award, and the Special Award (EXPO 2025).These included “EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA,” the first stadium in Japan to fully incorporate ETFE film; “EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo Restroom 3,” which utilizes ponding for a cooling effect; “null²,” in which we were involved in the development of a new mirrored membrane material;the “Expo Sauna ‘Sun Bud’,” which utilizes ETFE film; “2025 Japan International Exposition Rest Area 1,” which promotes resource recycling through the use of recycled materials; and “Future of Life Signature Pavilion,” characterized by flowing water and a mesh membrane—all received awards.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Award Committee Member Yoshihiro Iizuka (Summary)
This project realized an open stadium space that blends seamlessly with the city, along with a symbolic grand roof representing the “Wings of Peace.”Through the effective use of ETFE membranes, the design successfully balances the natural light required for growing natural turf with thermal comfort considerations, and was highly praised as a plan that takes maintenance into account. The light and airy spatial expression created by the combination of cable-stayed beams and membrane structures is also outstanding, and as a pioneering example of the full-scale adoption of ETFE membranes in Japanese stadiums, this project is expected to lead to further developments in the future.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Award Committee Member Masaya Kawabata (Summary)
This technology presented a new solution for heat countermeasures in air-supported membrane structures by actively utilizing ponding—a phenomenon that had previously been avoided.In “Toilet 3” at EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, in addition to demonstrating “Engineered Pondering,” the project showcased new possibilities for membrane structures, such as controlling membrane shape in response to wind speed and rainfall, and utilizing fluttering. It was highly praised as an advanced initiative with great potential for future application to air-supported membrane structures.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Award Committee Member Kotaro Imai (Summary)
“null²” achieved the development of an unprecedented material—a mirror film with 98% reflectivity—and presented new possibilities for membrane structures.The mirror surface, which sways in response to wind and sound, creates a unique experience that blurs the boundary between the physical and digital worlds, supported by advanced analysis and construction techniques.Furthermore, the insights gained regarding heat-shielding performance and construction techniques open up significant possibilities for future architectural envelope development, making this work a worthy recipient of the Special Prize, which embodies the spirit of the World Expo in presenting a vision of the future.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Ms. Junko Koga, Member of the Awards Committee (Summary)
This project utilizes air-supported membrane units—a combination of ETFE and a proprietary aluminum frame—to create diverse and appealing spaces tailored to specific uses.While incorporating natural light and sea breezes, it creates distinct experiences in the sauna, lounge, and cold plunge areas, and also provides striking nighttime lighting effects.Furthermore, the lightweight and highly portable unit system offers the potential for deployment in a variety of applications, as well as for relocation and reuse; the project was highly praised as a work that broadly demonstrates the appeal and future potential of ETFE architecture.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Award Committee Member Takayuki Isobe (Summary)
This building is an ambitious work that demonstrates new possibilities for membrane materials by combining a variety of textiles—which were destined to be discarded as dead stock—with membrane materials.The one-of-a-kind roof, created by joining approximately 3,500 pieces of textile, not only offers a new perspective on resource recycling but also creates a rich, dynamic appearance.Furthermore, the undulating roof shape—created by three-dimensional perimeter beams and cables—has realized an attractive space where the membrane material and the membrane structure are seamlessly integrated. It was highly praised as an innovative initiative that points to a new direction for membrane structures.

◇Selection Comments: Evaluation by Award Committee Member Kotaro Imai (Summary)
The “Future of Life” exhibition hall by Hiroshi Ishiguro conceives of water as a “symbol of life” and achieves an unprecedented architectural expression by fusing flowing water with a soft membrane.The undulating exterior created by flowing water and mesh membranes represents an original attempt to inseparably link form and phenomenon, and—combined with environmental effects such as the sound of water and evaporative cooling—provides visitors with a rich experience. It was highly praised as an innovative work that expands the possibilities of membrane structures from the perspectives of phenomena, materials, and construction methods.

Taiyo Kogyo is a leading company in the field of large-scale membrane structures, with a history spanning over 100 years. At the 1970 Japan World Exposition, the company achieved the world’s first low-rise (height-restricted) pneumatic membrane structure—one that supported the roof using only air pressure—for the U.S. Pavilion.Since then, the company has participated in large-scale projects around the world, including the installation of the membrane roof at the Tokyo Dome and the Millennium Dome in London (now known as The O2 Arena), one of the world’s largest dome structures. Furthermore, for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, the company was involved in the construction of more than 20 pavilions and facilities, supporting the development of the Expo site.
With membrane structure technology—which excels in cost-effectiveness, constructability, light transmission, and design—at its core, the company has expanded its operations from the construction sector into civil engineering, logistics, and environmental fields, thereby supporting safety and peace of mind in society.
Together with our group companies—including TSP Taiyo Co., Ltd., which specializes in event consulting, and Actio Co., Ltd., which manages facility operations—we are committed to providing new value to society under the motto, “Making the world more flexible. Making the future warmer.”