Anssi Lassila Speaking at Osaka World Expo 2025

Anssi Lassila, portrait photo in front of the brick wall of the Tikkurila Church, photo by Jukka Granström

In the Finland Sauna Conference at Osaka World Expo 2025 on October 4, 2025, Anssi Lassila, founder and director of OOPEAA will share his versatile experience in designing saunas. The event is part of the program of the Nordic Circle at the expo. The all day summit takes place in the Nordic Pavilion.

Finland Sauna Conference at Osaka World Expo 2025

Tailored to Japanese hotel, spa and sauna companies, architects, business owners, and developers, the Finland Sauna Conference provides an overview aspects of the Finnish sauna culture today from a variety of angles. It includes presentations by architects and interior designers as well as by producers of sauna stoves and sauna manufacturers.

  • FINLAND SAUNA CONFERENCE 2025
  • フィンランド サウナカンファレンス
  • Osaka Expo, Nordic Circle
  • October 4, 2025, 10 – 17
  • Osaka, Kansai

The conference takes place in the Nordic Pavilion. After the event, it is possible to join a tour of the pavilion at 17 o’clock.

The event is organized by Business Finland.

Hamnbad Stockholm, view of the entrance, rendering

Sauna Buildings Today – From Hand Carved Logs to Timber Structures Made of CLT

In the Finland Sauna Conference, Anssi Lassila will discuss the culture of sauna buildings in Finland today through his personal experience as an architect. During his career he has had the opportunity to design a broad range of different kinds of saunas for different purposes, from small private saunas  to public saunas of different sizes.

In his talk, he will show examples of sauna buildings made of exquisite hand carved logs, of saunas created by transforming the use of an old farm granary into a perfectly functioning sauna, as well as designs for sauna and spa complexes built on a floating platform made of CLT.

The löyly room of the Lonna Sauna, photo by Jussi Tiainen

You can find more information on some of the sauna projects by OOPEAA here:

Lonna Sauna, view from the sea with the skyline of Helsinki in the background

Nordic Presence at Osaka World Expo 2025

The Nordic presence at Expo 2025 Osaka includes a joint Nordic pavilion, joint activities and Nordic events. The Nordic pavilion provides a platform for events and exchanges for sharing the Nordic experience and knowhow with the audiences in Japan. Coming together, celebrating achievements, sharing learnings, asking questions and exchanging ideas allows us to build trust and work together towards a better future.

Key themes of the Nordic Circle project are Circular Economy, Mobility & Connectivity, and Lifestyle & Wellbeing. In addition, the project also incorporates Sustainability and Digitalization as cross-cutting themes in all activities of the pavilion.

A Timber Pavilion for the Nordic Countries

Reflecting the main themes of the Nordic Circle, the pavilion itself is made of timber. It is a 1 200-square-metre, 17-metre tall timber structure that evokes timelessness and sustainable thinking. It houses a Nordic exhibition area as well as a rooftop with a restaurant and a Nordic garden, complemented with other meeting spaces and a business centre.

The joint pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka provides an opportunity for the world to join in on the Nordic model of trust, sustainability and innovation. Finland’s participation in the joint project is led by Business Finland.

  • For more information on the Nordic Pavilion and the Nordic Circle project, see HERE.