Netherlands-based Hoogte Twee Architecten shared with us their project B(h)uis, a small pavilion built with PVC tubes. More images and architect’s description after the break.
“Through the centuries architects have used small construction works to experiment with spaces of limited form, scale and extent, but also to experiment with material and details.
As there’s a lack of well-equipped research laboratories, the research of material by architects focuses on potentials of existing (construction-) products in which mainly is sought for possibilities of improper use of materials. Our temporary residence is such an experiment. PVC tubes have inspired us to a design of a special object in which this material is no longer seen as a tube but as a hollow building stone.
The material is researched by its spatial characteristics and escapes its standard application. The transparency in the along-direction and the fixed wall in the cross-direction determine the spatiality.
By parallel stacking of the tubes as building stones a mass has been created which represents itself closed from four sides, but which is transparent, seen from the head sides. By hollowing out this mass a special residence will be created which will be provided by light seen from the head sides.”
Architects: Hoogte Twee Architecten – Arnhem
Location: Lent, The Netherlands
Project team: Martin-Paul Neys, Peter Groot, Cor Tiemens, Rudi Koster, Bart van den Hoven
Design year: 2005
Construction year: 2009
Photographs: Hoogte Twee Architecten
Material sponsor: Dyka Nederland b.v.
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
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- © Hoogte Twee Architecten
awesome! love the shots of people using it… so simple and yet so cool!
Not that good if you’re claustrophobic…
Any 10 years old can have this “innovative” ideas.
Next, do we glue rubber ducks together to make more art?
anon, yes! parametric rubber ducks! i love it!!!
nice tubes project btw.
Good work, let’s scale this up! Wonder what a larger work would look like.
A nice idea, but needs to be slightly bigger, about 10-20%. You can see that he can’t really fit his legs in behind the table in the picture.
But other than that, it’ll brighten up a public space quite well!
I agree that the scale should be enlarged, but much more than what others have suggested. The inherent tubular shape of the PVC almost suggests that the form could be more fluid, as if emerging from the ground and create more levels.
It might be a good exercise to push this concept as far as it can go. As good as this looks at such a small scale, I can only imagine what it would look like at a bigger scale (not just in human proportions, but also the scale of the design).
Love it! So simple and intelligent!
@ Anger — Agreed! Slightly bigger and this space could be used by all.
@ Andrew — I quite like that the overall shape is not that fluid. I think the squareness offsets and complements all the circles from the PVC.
@ Andrew
I think the fluidity of lines emerging from the collection of PVC in contrast to the rectilinear packaging of the pavilion is what makes this interesting. The interior remains an organic undulating space for the use by (organic) people while the exterior planes relate directly to the orthogonal geometry of the built environment. Creating a fluid form with PVC would suggest changing from the linear nature of PVC construction (a found item) to a processed form would alter the inherent nature of the concept and I fear it would lose its uniqueness.
It is very simple and elegant. Does anyone know how the connections work?
Lately I’ve been intrigued by the idea of interactive statues/structures that draw people into a space or act as an intermediary between public and private spaces. When I walk past the art museum right next to my campus, there are hardly ever any people sitting in the lawn or courtyard that was obviously intended to be a public area. I found myself pondering ways to give this space a new purpose, and the idea of a statue as a functional piece of art was very appealing. It could almost double as a structure for sitting or playing, a way to entice young children to the space (and thus their guardians).
This amazing little pavilion achieves all of the above with a simplistic and absolutely stunning composition of PVC tubes that entices all ages to enjoy taking a seat, either on the tubes or inside of them. I can only imagine how this might give life to currently empty public spaces which were originally intended to be used as a place for people to enjoy.
It’s so intriguing how these PVC pipes, just hollow tubes, can all at once create form and void. I like that the structure fluctuates, appearing and then disappearing as the viewer walks around it. In the picture with the people sitting in the pavilion, there is a slight illusion that they are floating in space. It’s cool to see innovation in use of material, especially if the material might now be used again. Also, the public seems to interact well with the pavilion.
If the tubes were cut angels it might make a really interesting soundscape too.
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