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All photos above by Constance McGuire

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Construction of the Oculus Pavilion

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1:1 Prototype assembly

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Exhibition at Westminster University with 1:1 prototype an models at various scales

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Laser cut and 3D printed models at various scales

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The Team: Maria Kramer -Room 102 ltd, Geoff  Mollow -StructureMode and
​Westminster University students (Alexander Onufriev  bottom left)

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​Oculus Pavilion

The Oculus Pavilion was funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust and designed and built by third year Architecture students from the University of Westminster. The project was initiated and lead by Maria Kramer, director of Room 102 ltd and main tutor of the students and it was part of the London Festival of Architecture.

Innovative design and production methods were used with all the structural elements CNC cut and the design and construction was algorithmically supported with Grasshopper software.

The circular structure with a view into the sky was inspired by Architect Vladimir Tatlin’s 1919 design for the Tatlin Tower, a design not realised until a sculpture was built in 1971 as part of the ‘Art in Revolution’ Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. The 1971 sculpture was reconstructed at the rear patio of the Marylebone Campus, the same location where the students’ Oculus pavilion will be exhibited this year. Tatlin’s Tower was an ‘avant-garde structural design’ which had a considerable impact on contemporary artistic thinking.

Maria Kramer, Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Westminster “This is an exciting opportunity for students to experience the detail design and building process first hand, understanding the complex development of translating a cutting edge proposal into a build structure. The rear podium is benefitting from an exciting pavilion showcasing the possibility of using the external space socially all year round. We used innovative CNC technology manufacturing more than 300 component pieces at the university’s own Fabrication Laboratory. With the help of the structural engineers StructureMode and Weber Industries we managed the construction process bridging the gap between academia and practice. ”

Digital model showing horizontal spiral
elements, ​vertical ribs and final structure

CNC cutting layout by Alexander Onufriev

by Simon Mclanaghan 

      CNC cutting at Westminster's Fabrication Laboratory 

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