Archipelago

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