BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule
The experimental pavilion BOXEL was designed and realized by students of the architecture department during the last summer semester on the campus of the University of Applied Sciences in Detmold. The expressive design by Henri Schweynoch, which succeeded in an impromptu competition, creates a generous spatial scenery for presentations, concerts, events and gatherings on the campus. More images and information after the break.
Within the digital design course, led by Prof. Marco Hemmerling, the students were not only asked to design a summer pavilion but also to construct and realize the design as a mock-up in scale 1:1, using digital design and fabrication tools. Against this background the digital workflow including parameters of production, construction and material became key issues of the further process.
The building shape is based on a minimal surface and consists of more than 2.000 beer boxes that are organized along the free form geometry. The temporary construction was designed using parametric software to control the position of the boxes in relation to the overall geometry and to analyze the structural performance.
In order to define the construction concept and the detailing of the connection several static load tests were made to understand the structural behaviour of the unusual building material, especially since the empty beer boxes were not stacked onto but freely organized next to each other. In parallel to a series of shearing and bending tests in the university’s laboratory of material research the structural concept was simulated and optimized using FEM-Software.
Finally a simple system of slats and screws was chosen for the assembly of the pavilion that allowed for a flexible and invisible connection. Additional bracings were placed in the upper part of the boxes to generate the required stiffness of the modules. The structural load transfer was realized by concrete-lined boxes at the three base points that served as foundation for the pavilion.
BOXEL was erected in only one week by the students and served as a scenic background for the end of semester party and during the international summer school (www.a-d-a-d.com) at the University in Detmold. The beer boxes which, after being ten years in use, were supplied by the local brewery and will be recycled when the pavilion is being disassembled.
A second pavilion design that is based on moveable wooden frames, designed by Lisa Hagemann, was also selected during the competition phase and will probably be realized during the next summer semester in 2011.
Teaching staff: Prof. Marco Hemmerling, Visiting-Prof. Matthias Michl, David Lemberski, Guido Brand and Claus Deis
Students: Henri Schweynoch (Design), Guido Spriewald, Elena Daweke, Lisa Hagemann, Bernd Benkel, Thomas Serwas Michael Brezina, Samin Magriso, Caroline Zij, Michelle Layahou with Jan Bienek, Christoph Strotmann, Matthias Kemper, Frank Püchner, Florian Tolksdorf, Florian Nienhaus, Andre Osterhaus, Viktoria Vaintraub, Jörg Linden, Bianca Mohr, Kristina Schmolinski, Tobias Jonk
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm
- © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus Brehm





















































woah :) my university has been mentioned in archdaily :) yayyyy
really nice! congratulations!
This is really nice, reminds me of our planted milk crate structure on Governor’s Island. http://builtecology.blogspot.com/2010/06/living-pavilion-dispatch-6-construction.html
Very impressiv stock of boxes:)… Just imagine, if these boxes are floating, and we can repeate this wava again and again, it would be big floating platform for sity on the water:)… from used matireals…
I remember some LEGO tower I saw time ago, in various blogs
enhorabuena por tu trabajo
my 2 passions all-in-one: architecture and beer. Simply love it, very interesting work!
Fascinating blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks
11:33 AM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule: © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus BrehmThe experimental pavilion BOXEL was designed… http://bit.ly/aC6j2t
11:40 AM Aug 15th
RT @archdaily: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
11:40 AM Aug 15th
curte isso… RT: @archdaily: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
11:41 AM Aug 15th
RT @archdaily: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
11:47 AM Aug 15th
Ein Pavillon aus Bierkästen (Detmolder Pilsener ;)). Super! via @archdaily http://ht.ly/2pOP5
11:48 AM Aug 15th
RT @archdaily: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
11:51 AM Aug 15th
【archi info】 BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://dlvr.it/3qQCS #Pavilion (archdaily) #rental_archiinfo
12:03 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/d0EHFL
12:15 PM Aug 15th
arquitetura com grades de cerveja. RT @archdaily BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
12:19 PM Aug 15th
RT @archdaily: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://archdai.ly/bNiq7m #architecture
12:21 PM Aug 15th
No tires los cajones de cerveza. Mirá http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/
12:28 PM Aug 15th
RT @Architektourist: Ein Pavillon aus Bierkästen (Detmolder Pilsener ;)). Super! via @archdaily http://ht.ly/2pOP5
12:29 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule: The experimental pavilion BOXEL was designed and realized by students of the… http://bit.ly/aC6j2t
12:35 PM Aug 15th
design this am.. very cool 'crate box' installation (via archdaily) : http://fb.me/z34im8f8
12:51 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://ff.im/-phK2l
12:53 PM Aug 15th
RT @Architektourist: Ein Pavillon aus Bierkästen (Detmolder Pilsener ;)). Super! via @archdaily http://ht.ly/2pOP5
1:09 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule: © Dirk Schelpmeier, Marcus BrehmThe experimental pavilion BOXEL was designed… http://bit.ly/cDou1N
1:13 PM Aug 15th
#z: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule #arch #installation http://goo.gl/fb/z5aku
1:32 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/d0EHFL
1:33 PM Aug 15th
RT @trendsmitter: BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/d0EHFL
2:01 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily: The experimental pavilion BOXEL was designed … http://bit.ly/cXQQbV http://www.cubestudio.info
2:35 PM Aug 15th
Eu quero fazer isso com grades de Cerpa ; )) http://bit.ly/aet4eF muito show
3:28 PM Aug 15th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://tinyurl.com/2vadff4 // wow a nice box based pavillion !
10:35 PM Aug 15th
What German architecture students did with 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28 via @archdaily
10:41 PM Aug 15th
You won't see this at UPEI RT @insideoutmag: What German architecture students did with 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28 via @archdaily
11:41 PM Aug 15th
RT @Architektourist: Ein Pavillon aus Bierkästen (Detmolder Pilsener ;)). Super! via @archdaily http://ht.ly/2pOP5
11:59 PM Aug 15th
RT @insideoutmag: What German architecture students did with 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28 via @archdaily
12:47 AM Aug 16th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/d0EHFL
귀엽다
1:04 AM Aug 16th
RT @Architektourist: Ein Pavillon aus Bierkästen (Detmolder Pilsener ;)). Super! via @archdaily http://ht.ly/2pOP5
1:15 AM Aug 16th
RT @insideoutmag: What German architecture students did with 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28 via @archdaily
1:36 AM Aug 16th
Instalación creada con 2000 cajas de cerveza como producto de un curso de diseño digital #arquitectura #diseño http://is.gd/ejAkb
1:36 AM Aug 16th
Instalación creada con 2000 cajas de cerveza como producto de un curso de diseño digital #arquitectura #diseño http://is.gd/ejAkb
2:31 AM Aug 16th
Benefits of a recycling & beer swilling society! RT @leetranlam What German architecture students did w 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28
3:13 AM Aug 16th
Per a un monument a la Copal de #Algemesi ? xD Idees, idees – http://bit.ly/asBdNJ
8:07 AM Aug 16th
Reading: "BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/8nrr82 )
8:40 AM Aug 16th
BOXEL | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/c3TaqU
9:00 AM Aug 16th
…ordentliches Handwerk mit Hilfe von Bierkisten….So kann man die Überbleibsel der Studentenpartys auch… http://fb.me/BlsFuCZx
9:04 AM Aug 16th
RT @Jankovitch: BOXEL | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/c3TaqU
9:31 AM Aug 16th
RT @insideoutmag: What German architecture students did with 2000 beer boxes http://bit.ly/bzWt28 via @archdaily
9:52 AM Aug 16th
Caixas http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/ Ual!
12:04 PM Aug 16th
Reading: "BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/8nrr82 )
3:00 PM Aug 16th
lo que hicieron unos estudiantes en alemania con unas cajas de cerveza (después de tomarselas me imagino) http://bit.ly/aet4eF
3:15 PM Aug 16th
RT @gonronoe: lo que hicieron unos estudiantes en alemania con unas cajas de cerveza (después de tomarselas me imagino) http://bit.ly/aet4eF
3:21 PM Aug 16th
RT @gonronoe: lo que hicieron unos estudiantes en alemania con unas cajas de cerveza (después de tomarselas me imagino) http://bit.ly/aet4eF
6:46 PM Aug 16th
pense no monte de cerveja que precisou ser consumida pra construir isso. muito muito legal. http://bit.ly/cqqzkz
7:57 PM Aug 16th
RT @rafaelaleite: pense no monte de cerveja que precisou ser consumida pra construir isso. muito muito legal. http://bit.ly/cqqzkz
7:30 AM Aug 17th
http://bit.ly/aet4eF Beer boxes structure #recycle
7:31 AM Aug 17th
Une oeuvre d'art avec 2000 palettes de bierres http://bit.ly/bivhyR
8:15 AM Aug 17th
Pavilion minimal surface and consists of more than 2.000 beer boxes that are organized along the free form geometry http://bit.ly/di0RNW
9:42 AM Aug 17th
Students create ode to beer out of beer boxes, GS approves | ArchDaily http://t.co/NouW1bc via @archdaily
10:43 AM Aug 17th
The beauty of "Bierkisten": http://t.co/Ftaaeu9 – via @archdaily
12:39 PM Aug 17th
Instalación creada con 2000 cajas de cerveza http://bit.ly/aet4eF
2:50 PM Aug 17th
RT @nimish600: http://bit.ly/deZVJY — slick art frm beer boxes
3:05 PM Aug 17th
hier kan dat tuig op de appelhof nog een puntje aan zuigen: http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/
3:40 PM Aug 17th
An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://bit.ly/ahylKv #art #architecture
8:30 PM Aug 17th
맥주_박스 http://is.gd/emnm8
1:49 AM Aug 18th
RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://bit.ly/ahylKv #art #architecture
2:35 AM Aug 18th
RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://bit.ly/ahylKv #art #architecture
3:52 AM Aug 18th
RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://bit.ly/ahylKv #art #architecture
5:49 AM Aug 18th
Was machen Detmolder Stundenten, wenn die langweile haben? http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/
1:09 PM Aug 18th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://t.co/jj6ZJOY via @archdaily
9:35 AM Aug 20th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://bit.ly/aet4eF
9:42 AM Aug 23rd
Students build a summer pavilion with 2000 beer crates http://t.co/gOoRNk6
9:12 AM Aug 28th
.
Pretty cool sculpture built by German architectural students out of 2,000 cases of beer. http://fb.me/HO7vVFRX
11:46 AM Aug 29th
Beautiful art-itecture BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://t.co/aPWWuII via @archdaily
7:08 AM Aug 31st
nothing like starting out your morning with a beer, or 2000 crates! http://t.co/siUuCmH via @archdaily
8:40 PM Sep 2nd
A minha programação de feriado vai ser mais ou menos assim… =D http://t.co/4M2jTMG via @archdaily
2:54 AM Sep 3rd
http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/
9:30 PM Sep 9th
Feriado sustentável é isso: http://www.archdaily.com/73173/boxel-students-of-detmolder-schule/
12:28 AM Sep 17th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://t.co/cEO8tdW via @archdaily
12:14 PM Sep 25th
Finite element analysis helps derive #innovation, especially when motivated by beer. (A challenge for #innobeer?) http://bit.ly/bzWt2Y
5:09 AM Sep 26th
German Students Create Life-size Pavilion Using Beer Boxes [Photos] – http://bit.ly/bzWt2Y #Architecture #Design
5:45 PM Sep 28th
RT @jsbelfiore: Finite element analysis helps drive #innovation, esp when motivated by beer. (A challenge 4 #innobeer?) http://bit.ly/bzWt2Y
6:43 PM Oct 6th
cool recycled boxes structure !!! BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://t.co/Wa4xSQt via @archdaily
1:44 PM Jan 30th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule http://t.co/0o5CqQP via @archdaily
4:32 PM Aug 11th
What to do with 2000 empty beer boxes… and time… and friends… and engineering know how… and possibly the… http://fb.me/ZvRw9kcn
12:05 PM Aug 16th
RT @freshhop: What to do with 2000 empty beer boxes… and time… and friends… and engineering know how… http://t.co/VwAgP5d
4:30 PM Aug 16th
An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/cy97YDN #art #architecture
11:00 PM Aug 16th
An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/cy97YDN #art #architecture
11:43 PM Aug 16th
cool RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/jI8PebI #art #architecture
7:15 AM Aug 17th
An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/cy97YDN #art #architecture
7:17 AM Aug 17th
An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/cy97YDN #art #architecture
7:34 AM Aug 17th
RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/Y5Lbphl #art #architecture
7:47 AM Aug 17th
Damn! Awesome RT @matthiasrascher: An experimental pavilion made of beer boxes. http://t.co/7e4jt8S
7:53 AM Aug 17th
BOXEL / Students of Detmolder Schule | ArchDaily http://t.co/0nd5IN9 via @archdaily
2:24 PM Apr 6th
pabellon temporal con cajas de cerveza. Se habrán bebida las cervezas antes o despues ¬¬ http://t.co/7LGDCIX1
3:50 PM Apr 9th
Súper interesante este pabellón de gaveras construido por estudiantes de arquitectura en Alemania #fb http://t.co/lN2Zu9Ts