It takes two points to describe a distance, three points to define a plane and a minimum of four points to describe a volume, but how many points does it take to perceive a volume? How far can two elements be apart and how should they be ordered to understand their mutual relationship and the space they describe? This pavilion is a playful experiment where spaces of a very different character are described with an element, a slender column, that is repeated in between two illuminated planes. The two planes that form the soffit and the floor of the pavilion are 3,6 m by 12 m. The slender columns range in diameter from 50 to 90 mm.
On one side of this pavilion, the columns are positioned randomly at larger distances from each other. This is an external exhibition area. The space between the columns is not clearly defined.
Moving through the pavilion to the other side the column spacing becomes denser and more ordered until they group together to form a sweeping curve ending in a circular room where columns are spaced at exactly the same distance from each other. This circular room provides a seating arrangement and space for some exhibits. In between a small bar can provide refreshments for people visiting the pavilion.
The floor of the pavilion is lifted from the ground, partly to emphasize the floor area and partly to recess the columns into the base. This allows them to cantilever out from the base providing stability to the structure without the use of diagonal bracing: The walls of the pavilion are constructed of vertical elements only. The floor finish is a joint-less epoxy-resin floor in a light colour; the soffit is a joint-less plastered cement board ceiling with a paint finish in the same colour.
Spotlights recessed in both the soffit and the floor will illuminate the opposite plane and the columns in between. The spotlights are 3 colour LEDs which allow for a changing colour and brightness of the light. By changing brightness and colour of the spots diffuse light patterns slowly move over the floor soffit and columns. The experience of sound and vision is completed by sound from directional speakers, concealed in the ceiling, which can only be perceived when standing directly underneath. The changing sound when moving through the pavilion will emphasize the different characters of the space.
The roof itself is constructed from Kingspan top deck panels. The panels have a slight fall with a ridge in the centre of the roof supported from a perimeter beam along the edge. The perimeter beam doubles up as a gutter. A sandwich panel is the only roof construction that can provide such a slender roof edge. As the roof falls down towards the perimeter of the roof the ridge in the centre will not be visible from eye height. The visitor to the pavilion will only be able to see the 80 mm high roof edge. This thin lightweight plane seems to float on top of numerous thin columns.
