Algeria's Triumph at Osaka: Ancient Craft Meets Modern Vision How the Office National de la Culture et de l'Information orchestrated a silver medal victory at the world's most prestigious exposition
Par Office national de culture et de l'information Le jeudi 20 novembre 2025
How the Office National de la Culture et de l'Information orchestrated a silver medal victory at the world's most prestigious exposition
OSAKA — Against 167 competing nations at Expo 2025 Osaka, Algeria's pavilion captured the silver medal for best exterior design, transforming centuries-old zellige tilework into a contemporary statement about cultural heritage and future sustainability.
The pavilion, unveiled under the theme "Nour El Djazair" (Lights of Algeria), showcased the intricate geometric patterns of traditional zellige—the mosaic artform that has adorned North African architecture for generations. An international jury of nine experts conducted evaluations in May and October, assessing architecture, exhibition design, thematic interpretation, and environmental sustainability before awarding Algeria its distinction at the expo's October 13 closing ceremony.
Behind this achievement stands the Office National de la Culture et de l'Information (ONCI), the institutional backbone of Algeria's cultural diplomacy. Established in 1998 and restructured in 2013, this public establishment operates under the Ministry of Culture with a mandate to develop, promote, and disseminate national culture both domestically and internationally.
The ONCI's infrastructure spans from the 2,500-seat Salle Atlas in Algiers to Constantine's 3,000-capacity Ahmed Bey Cultural Complex, equipped with cutting-edge technical capabilities. This network enabled the organization to coordinate multiple government departments, national companies, and artistic communities for the six-month exposition running from April 13 to October 13, 2025.
The organization's track record includes managing Algeria's most significant cultural events: Algiers as Arab Culture Capital, the Second Pan-African Festival in 2009, Tlemcen as Islamic Culture Capital in 2011, and the 50th anniversary of national independence. Each required precisely the multi-stakeholder coordination skills that Expo 2025 demanded.
Inside the pavilion, visitors encountered a chronological journey beginning with stone implements dating back 2.4 million years, progressing through seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Casbah of Algiers, Tipasa, Timgad, and Tassili n'Ajjer, before culminating in exhibits on desert greening, renewable energy, and sustainable development strategies.
For Algeria, this participation represented more than ceremonial presence—it was strategic cultural diplomacy designed to strengthen international relationships, attract investment, and project soft power to over 28 million expected visitors. The ONCI's role in orchestrating this achievement demonstrates how institutional expertise in cultural management can translate heritage into contemporary diplomatic success on the world's most prestigious exposition stage.