Proposed for the northern city of Novosibirsk, Russia, this summer pavilion is a thin-shell structure that differentiates according to the logic of composite construction, rather than frame-and-infill structures. The composite structure is sensitive to both surface morphology and surface differentiation. In either case, the structural performance can be tightly connected with the aesthetic qualities of the architecture. Qualities previously considered to be ornamental can now be understood as inherent to the aesthetics of the piece.
Two giant involutions press down into the roof and operate as columns, while warped surfaces—that would otherwise be floppy if they remained planar—are locally stiffened with variable-depth composite ribs. The highly differentiated pattern of armor-like panels on the exterior purposely do not index conventional systems of panelization and avoid reference to the human-scale. The whole structure is glued together like an aircraft, using no hardware or mineral materials.
Client: City of Novosibirsk
Type: Pavilion
Second Place Competition Winner
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