The primary design intent for the art pavilion was to create a recognizable presence for contemporary productions in Salzburg, a city that is predominantly known for classical music. The main user of the pavilion is the Salzburg Biennale, a festival for contemporary music.

A 2-meter long aluminum profile is arrayed to create oscillating spatial effects. The single sticks merge into a mass-like structure that changes its appearance during the day according to different light conditions. The speculative intention behind the “obliteration” of the pavilions structure is to prevent any conventional notion or cliché of “construction”. Instead the pavilion should appear arbitrary to invite visitors to invent their own associations and interpretations.

To realize these conceptual ideas, conventional methods are not feasible. Contradiction of regularity and irregularity and interaction of single elements that perform together as a complex whole cannot be reconciled in a straight forward process.

For the development of the structure a parametric model was built in GH. As all connections between the members are generated automatically, the structural evaluation can be parametrical done in Karamba. Random values control the angle of each member, the model is optimized with Galapagos.

The pavilion is currently in fabrication process and will be erected for the first time in March.

 

Architect: soma, Vienna

http://www.soma-architecture.com/

 Structural Design and Engineering: Bollinger Grohmann Schneider, Vienna

http://www.bollinger-grohmann.de/