Pavilion in New Orleans
Built originally for a conference of the American Institute of Architects, this pavilion was also conceived as a means of reanimating a forgotten area of New Orleans. Mysteriously illuminated in the evening, the structure attracts visitors to events held in an otherwise secluded courtyard in the French quarter. Some 320 plastic elements – variations on the same basic theme – were used to form both the skin and the structure. Their parametrically developed geometry is a response to certain situations within the overall object. Elements can be formulated as spatial extrusions that brace the pavilion, as foundations filled with sand, as vessels to collect rainwater or as planting boxes. Others support solar modules or light fittings, Plug-in elements like seating units and shelving are also conceivable. Together they form a self-supporting geodesic dome with a total weight of only 120 kg.
