Polish Pavilion / WWA Architects
WWA Architects have created a conceptual design for Shanghai Expo 2010. With the exhibition housing pavilions from countries all over the world, each pavilion must provide a strong aesthetic message to attract visitors and then provide insight to the country. WWA’s pavilion creates a distinct stylistic motif taken from the folk-art paper cut-out to create a “memorable cultural ideogram”. The intention was for “the structure décor to draw on and make reference to tradition, but ultimately to be that tradition’s contemporary reinterpretation, a creative extension into the present day by way of inspiration rather than replication,” explained the architects.
More images and more about the pavilion after the break.
Striving to make the design more than a literal interpretation of the folklore patterning, the architects seek to use the design in “a purely architectural dimension” to create an attractive space aesthetically as well as functionally. The slanting planes of the structure create “a geometrically intriguing and flexible space that can be creatively apportioned, by inner divisions, to different exhibition, performance and utility functions and uses.”
The pavilion creates a route for the visitors to follow, which outlines a logical progression through the space. The path first circulates around the information center before leading to the full-height exhibition space. This main area, with light filtering through the cut-out patterns of the elevation, consists of solid walls that function as screens. The screens project images of Polish city life and provide the backdrop for cultural performances in an effort to place the viewer in the appropriate setting.
The route continues to flow through the pavilion, leading up a terraced viewing platform and eventually to the roof level, known as the “viewing spot.” The slanted roof provides an area for outdoor performances as well as prime seating for viewing the whole exhibition.
Wood is the main construction and finishing element while the outer layer of the elevation is made of impregnated laser-cut plywood mounted on glued wood construction modules with flitch plates. Panel wall elements made of glass, polycarbonate, hydro or UV resistant materials are mounted on the outer side of the modules. On the inner side, semi-transparent PCV or Tyvek type material membranes will be additionally mounted, on which the patterns of the outer elevation will be projected.
Thanks to our reader Patrick, an architecture student, for suggesting this project!
Credits: arch.Marcin Mostafa, arch. Natalia Paszkowska, arch. Wojciech Kakowski
nice, simple, clear.
too nice, too simple, too clear
The facade looks a bit agressive, a better mapping should make a better effect
Another lattice façade project to the pile… Sadly, nowadays this seems to be the most used, the most simplistic way to inject any sort of “identity” to a building. A folded, laser-cut patterned skin, some RGB LED lights underneath, and we’re set, we’re contemporary. Shouldn’t we try harder?
true, the lattice/motif is nothing new. but the project is spatially dynamic and provocative. lifting the facade and ramping to the roof are both strong and inviting, as an expo pavilion should be. “nice proyect” to quote odris.
im almost 100% certain i saw a project a few weeks agoo on arch dail with the same lifting up facade thing goin on.
Is there any way that architects can develop concepts without the use of “mapping”, “lattice”, and other funky tools? Yes, a nice building mass, but where is the architecture in this? Would it be a good project without the opacity maps? All in all a very appealing project; looks like my grandmother made it from wool-knitting (sure, i get it, that was the point…).
This is absolutely boring.
I agree with Rick & Timothy, doily façades like this leave me cold. I think Marcel Wanders kick-started this fussy decorative trend. Not a fan.
copy of dominique perrault’s marinsky 2 if you ask me…
pedja,
It might have some similar “atmosphere”, but at the end they are very different.
yes,i agree that they are different…but it seems to me that in terms of form,facade…they are more similar than different :) i’m not sugesting that it’s a copy/paste architecture
bla bla bla copy
but wait this is 3 years old, so who copy who
and its tradycional polish patern
so
and you dont understand concept
this French guy doing “Haft” (EMBROIDERY; FANCY-WORK; EMBROIDERING)
and Polish one is “wycinanka” (isnt in engish dictionary)
, you took paper and scizros, put paper too haf and cut
http://images.google.com/images?q=wycinanka&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:pl:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi
and
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Wycinanka-kurpiowska-gwiazda.JPG&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wycinanka-kurpiowska-gwiazda.JPG&h=2336&w=3504&sz=1922&tbnid=CnkeH42YmqoCVM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwycinanka&usg=__Bpoh0fkE382fcm718Sk5H74s3D8=&ei=RKxOSs79DovQ-Qb2n-3-Aw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image
funky tools
What a world fair pavillion should be, pretty, spectacular and useless, :)
hmm I think tradition is important on such event like expo-they showed it alrght but I begin to think the building itself is quite boring and the only trick is the pattern. despite the fact I’m polsih I must say they could do better.
It’s like Indonesian Batik Textures on it facade..
6:32 AM Oct 13th
Polish Pavilion / WWA Architects / folklore patterns http://t.co/Bhy9RUg via @archdaily