Archipelago

by Benoit Croo

Jun 4, 2012

check out the video for a closer look at the whole process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF44sU7elOw During the summer of 2012 a pavilion built entirely of precision cut steel is exhibited at Röhsska Museum of Design, Gothenburg, Sweden. With perforations that sift the light and with joints that are put together by hand, it serves as a focus point in the big courtyard while visitors can relax in the shade. The pavilion is parametrically designed in Grasshopper and Rhino, and loads, sun and shade, and material use has been optimized. Steel sheets of 2 mm have been laser cut and rolled at the factory and then assembled by hand in situ. After summer the pavilion will be standing at Chalmers University of Technology during the autumn, after which it is possible to purchase it. The pavilion is a collaboration between Röhsska museum of Design, Chalmers University of Technology and Ribo-verken, and is the result of 33 Architecture students' work during one semester, in the master level class 'Material and Detail'. After selecting one initial design, 33 students have worked to develop the design, and to turn the project into a pavilion which is safe and constructable. The purpose of the course is to explore digital fabrication and to turn it into a real, built architectural project. Words on the design: When talking to the staff at Röhsska at our first site visit, it became clear that the courtyard, even though at the time covered with snow, could get extremely hot during summer days. Adding this fact to the briefs' demand for seating and the size of the empty courtyard, we set out to create a pavilion that provided shaded seating inside it as well as creating shaded spaces around it to place existing chairs and tables. The pavilion therefore creates a network of spaces with the existing furniture that altogether manages to inhabit the large courtyard, like different small islands in an archipelago, which together with the technique of rolling the steel in to arc segments gave it its name. Well inside the pavilion you can lie comfortably on the smooth surface that uses the steels excellent possibility to stay cool wheEn shaded. Inside you find yourself in a space, the pavilion, within a space, the courtyard, that creates a small but secluded getaway from the hectic city life of central Gothenburg that is just outside the courtyard. The perforation in the ceiling spreads out an organic pattern resembling the one you would see from a tree in the forest. Contrasting the smooth inside, the outside of the pavilion lets the visitor study in detail how the 133 pieces are joint together with 1535 joints with a total of 3640 bolts holding it together. - Marcus Abrahamsson & Benoit Croo, Initial Design Cooperation partners: Röhsska Museum of Design & Chalmers Arkitektur Main sponsor: Ribo-verken Sponsors: Stålbyggnadsinstitutet, COWI, Tengbom, Unit Arkitektur AB, Swebolt AB