Beyond The Pavilion/MIster EMMA

Two screenings at the Osaka World Expo for Mister Emma's new film!

Beyond the Pavilion immerses us in the world of five Walloon architects who have brought Belgian creativity to the international stage by designing national pavilions for major exhibitions. Through their individual journeys, the film unveils powerful and contrasting architectural visions rooted in sustainability, innovation, and identity. Blending intimate glimpses into their daily lives with thoughtful reflections on what it means to build for the future, the documentary offers a sensitive and committed portrait of contemporary Walloon architecture.

The documentary profiles Patrick Genard, designer of the Belgian pavilion for the Milan World Expo in 2015; Vincent Callebaut, architect of the Belgian pavilion at the Dubai World Expo in 2021 (The Green Arch); and Cyril Rousseaux, creator of the pavilion presented in Osaka in 2025 on the theme Saving Lives. It also shines a light on the remarkable career of Nicolas Godelet, whose work in China for over twenty years has received international acclaim, as well as that of Laurent Ney, a world-renowned architect and civil engineer. Ney notably participated in the Luxembourg pavilion in Osaka and shares his vision in the film through his works of art in Belgium, abroad, and particularly in Tokyo.

Although they share a common origin, these five architects develop radically different approaches. The film explores not only the pavilions they have designed but also their professional daily lives through in-depth interviews and immersive sequences. It highlights their motivations to represent Belgium and analyzes how these international experiences have influenced their trajectories.

By following the architects in their everyday environments—offices, construction sites, completed works—Beyond the Pavilion offers an intimate view of their creative process, their commitment, and their approach to contemporary challenges. The film questions what it means for them to design an international project at this stage in their careers: a challenge, an opportunity, or a platform for greater creative freedom?

This documentary serves as a vibrant tribute to Walloon architectural creativity and its global influence. It acts as a living archive for future generations and captures the essence of a time when architecture goes beyond mere construction to become a statement on the future of our planet.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIVE PROTAGONISTS

Patrick Genard

Belgian architect based in Barcelona, head of Patrick Genard & Asociados. He designed the Belgian pavilion for the 2015 World Expo in Milan, on the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. His approach combines ecological sensitivity with contemporary architectural techniques. The Belgian pavilion in Milan illustrated this vision with a structure that is both sustainable and innovative.

Vincent Callebaut

An architect renowned for his commitment to ecology and sustainable development, he has designed the Belgian pavilion at the World Expo in Dubai in 2021, known as L'Arche verte. His work is characterised by futuristic projects incorporating solutions to environmental challenges, particularly climate change. His order book bears witness to the accuracy of his visions, and today he is building in the four corners of the world, spreading his visionary architecture far and wide.

Cyril Rousseaux

Architect from Louviers selected to represent Belgium at the 2025 Osaka World Expo with a pavilion entitled Saving Lives, focusing on water conservation. This project marks his first contract outside Louviers, and represents a major opportunity for Carré 7, his office, which aspires to expand internationally. Cyril Rousseaux hopes to capitalise on this global showcase to raise his profile and extend the reach of his company.

Nicolas Godelet

Originally from the province of Namur, Nicolas Godelet travelled the world as a teenager before settling in China, where he enjoyed a remarkable career. The health crisis brought him back to Wallonia, to Dorinne, where he took over the old family home, which he is now patiently renovating. At the age of 46, he has taken on the role of craftsman for an exciting new adventure, and it was from here that he was hired to create the Belgium pavilion at the Floriade Expo in Almere in 2022, and today he is in charge of the heritage renovation of the Chinese pavilion on the Laeken site in Brussels.

Laurent Ney

Laurent Ney is a Belgian civil engineer and co-founder of Ney & Partners, a company specialising in innovative and sustainable architectural structures. He is renowned for his skills in designing lightweight, complex structures that combine aesthetics and functionality. His expertise extends to large-scale projects in Tokyo and Belgium. As head of Ney & Partners, he has helped transform bold architectural ideas into sustainable structures, combining art and engineering. He is highly respected for his ability to find technical and creative solutions.

Technical info:
Title: Beyond The Pavilion (Pavillons de passion)
Directed by Mister Emma
Starring : Patrick Genard, Vincent Callebaut, Cyril Rousseaux, Nicolas Godelet, Laurent Ney, Luc Schuiten
Country: Belgium
Genre: Documentary, Architecture
Release date: 11 May 2025
Running time: 0:52

Screenings

11 May 2025: Belgium Pavilion - World Expo / Osaka (Japan)

27 May 2025: Belgium Pavilion - World Expo / Osaka (Japan)

With the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International

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