Open space: temporary pavilion

This is the lounge pavilion of the Architecture Days 2011 event organized by the students of Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, which took place in May 2011.

Project coordinators : Dimitrie Stefanescu, Patrick Bedarf.

The project started out as an ambitious student-powered endeavor to design and fabricate at a 1:1 scale the flagship pavilion for the Architecture Days “Speaking Architecture”. While at the same time integrating into its historically-charged context, the design boasts a strong representational power which was much needed in order to fulfill its main goal: attracting passers-by to the event. The object tries to make legible the new ontology which is slowly defined by computational architecture and is a showcase for the processes empowered by it. At the same time, the pavilion offers a sheltered space for the unfolding of different social events pertaining to the corresponding architecture festival.

The design was elaborated during a parametric design workshop specifically geared towards its production. The structure consists of 746 unique pieces, which, once assembled, create a free-form ring which is subdivided into deep hexagons. This particular geometrical configuration allowed for the sheltering of the different planned events while at the same time inciting curiosity through its unusual, spectacular form. The realization of the design was made possible by advanced use of parametric design techniques, with the help of which the whole process was controlled from exact geometry generation to piece labeling, assembly logic and actual fabrication (CNC milling).

The pavilion emerged as a powerful urban attractor which managed to engage the local society on all levels. Interest was aroused in both young and senior citizens, both professionals and non-architects by the completed pavilion as well as during the act of its construction, thus proving to be more than an indifferent temporary shelter. Furthermore, it successfully provided a flexible and comfortable space for the different functions and activities: temporary bookshop, open-air cinema, tea party, jam sessions and a small concert + sleeping in the sun.

source: http://archreview.blogspot.com/2011/09/clj02-za11-pavilion.html
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