TSCHUMI PAVILION

The Tschumi pavilion was designed in 1990 by the architect Bernard Tschumi as part of a partially outdoor art exhibition held in the city of Groningen in the same year: the What a Wonderful World! Music Videos in Architecture manifestation. Now the pavilion functions as an urban public vitrine for all kinds of art projects. In April 2017, however, the idea emerged of having the pavilion once again conceptually approached as an urban exploration site for a new societal phenomenon.

We are in transition from an old constant – living in homes where most of the things in our lives happen – to a new constant – urban living with the city as the extension of our homes. This will allow people to live in smaller houses, while the quality of living will remain unchanged. We have managed to create a spatial area both within as well as around its transparent pavilion, which doesn’t immediately seem to reveal what it contains. And that’s precisely what it’s also meant to symbolize. Because we would very much like you to use your own imagination in determining how you yourself would design the interior of this small space if it were your own!

Though the structure itself is entirely made out of wooden slats cut in just two different lengths, its staggered design creates a dynamic whole. Each slat is attached to the next one with just one single screw, together, however, forming a solid self-supporting construction. The design thus, in fact, appears to be floating motionless around the glass pavilion. The exact positioning, as well as curving of the slats, were both determined during the construction phase itself. The ultimate appearance of the structure was thus developed while we were building it.

Status: 

Completed

Program: 

Temporary intervention

Year: 

2017

Location: 

Hereplein, Groningen

With: 

Academy of Architecture Groningen

Photos:

Peter de Kan

Client: 

Stichting Tschumi pavilioen, Dag van de Architectuur Groningen

Design team: 

Paul Breteler, Melvin Koolen, Thomas Rosema