From 15th March to 13th September 1970 the Universal Exposition was in Osaka, Japan. The Italian participation was organised into two pavilions: the national one - designed by Gilberto and Masino Valle and Sergio Brusa Pasqué - and the Italian industry pavilion, designed by Renzo Piano. The architects were asked to build a space free from pillars and extremely flexible: the Italian industry pavilion was a box in reinforced polyester, lifted from the ground and held by steel cables.