Inside UN Studio’s Burnham Pavilion

Aug 2009

By David Basulto — Filed under: Structures , Chicago, Pavilion, UNStudio, Wood

After our UN Studio’s Burnham Pavilion gallery, many of you wondered how it was built. This photo reveals the woodenstructure for this pavilion, which was later finished with a plastic-like material.

Photo via Construmatica.

12 comments »

alex says:

thank you thank you. I instantly wanted to know how it’s built when I saw final images. what was the next step? sheathing then “plastic-like” material? what was that material? keep the images coming if ya have ‘em!

# August 31, 2009 at 09:15

Mr.kid says:

Great Post!!! isn´t constructing an essencial part of the architect´s work? knowing how it holds on together, how it stands up! i think constructive details should deserve the same atention as the shiny magazine photo!

# August 31, 2009 at 12:33

patentpolice says:

UN Studio “Unplugged.” I like it, wish they would do something like this again without the skin.

# August 31, 2009 at 14:01

tk says:

it’s painted plywood and bondo. it’s not a plastic material at all.

# August 31, 2009 at 17:57

zach says:

just got back from chicago this weekend and went to check this stuff out. i’m shocked that they would allow such a cheap, unfinished attempt at art to grace that beautiful park. this painted wood piece lacks the refined detail of everything else in the park and in no way adds value to the park. nice try.

# August 31, 2009 at 20:37

peppy says:

I prefer the wooden structure to the finished one. i can imagine an amazing shadow on the structure and the floor

# August 31, 2009 at 22:22

imagine says:

I once saw a pavilion like this in front of AA School in London.

# August 31, 2009 at 22:38

kasko says:

So it’s a lightweight, now I understand why these overhangs are held, is very interesting sensation to just solides transmitting the material that covers the wooden structure

# August 31, 2009 at 23:12

alex says:

thanks ‘tk’ for clarifying the material…I thought “plastic-like” sounded suspect.

it really is amazing what such a primitive material can do coupled with advanced technologies and methods. while I disagree with zach’s assessment of this as a cheap unfinished attempt at art (its a temp pavilion for christ’s sake!) I would’ve liked to see the woodiness to be played out in the final form a bit more, rather than the “oh crap we ran out of ideas for what to clad this thing to make it look plastic-like, ah hell lets just use wood” look to it now.

# September 1, 2009 at 12:08

john says: