This is an exciting opportunity to visit an innovative and inspiring pavilion built by architecture students of Design Studio 3(2) lead by Maria Kramer, director of Room 102 ltd with the support of Weber Industries and StructureMode, as part of the London Festival of Architecture. It can be visited at the rear podium of the Marylebone Campus of the University of Westminster.
We developed a 'Woven Pavilion' CNC cutting slots in 6mm plywood sheets to create openings through which arches are 'woven', which are based on a catenary curve for optimum structural capabilities, with the support of Karamba/ Grashopper software. The arches are made in sections based on standard plywood sheet sizes and are simply bolted together on site.
Due to the complex, pre-buckled shape of the structural cladding, load tests were carried out and taken to the point of failure, to prove that the structural capacity is above any predicted wind loading. Instead of a deck as 'foundation', benches filled with sandbags were developed, avoiding any ground fixings or ties between the arches.
The pavilion uses digital fabrication tools for construction and development in collaboration with the in-house Fabrication Laboratory and funded by the Quentin Hogg Trust. The arches provide shelter and protection throughout the year for students and members of staff.
Workshop with students exploring various construction ideas using plywood
Development Model at scale 1:6 (standard plywood thicknesses of 1mm and 6mm are reflected in the unusual scale used)