The eagerly anticipated 2016 Triumph Pavilion at the Museum Gardens in Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA, next to the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum of Childhood has been exhibited to the public between 9th June - 3th July 2016 with great applause. 

The Triumph Pavilion project is an annual showcase and on the whole a unique and exciting celebration of architecture and design. It encourages architectural experimentation and exploration including form, function and material. The Pavilion is also part of this year’s London Festival of Architecture.

Designed by Five Line Projects in collaboration with engineering by Arup, the Pavilion by the talented and dynamic young practice based in London is a visual feast of an enchanting forest of pinwheels. The team also happen to be the youngest practice to win and be selected to design the Triumph Pavilion. 

Inspired by the classic children’s toy, the pinwheel, the Pavilion is a catalogue of mills upheld by a forest of pillars. Each wheel is systematically aligned to the others on the rod pillar, so a spin of a single wheel triggers movement of the adjacent wheel signifying the idea that the action of a single individual triggers a chain reaction by a greater number, positively influencing the wider community.

Southwest view to wards south entrance

The theme for this year's Triumph Pavilion was energy, hence the title “Energy Pavilion” with community being the focus of the winning concept. The brief called for the provision of an inspirational and engaging structure or space based on the theme of “energy” where visiting architects, designers, families and the general public can stand, walk-through or seat around to admire and engage with each other to enjoy and share discussions about design or simply relax within the unique setting and space created by the Pavilion. 

View from east entrance

Five Line Projects clever and enchanting architectural design addresses the difficulty of a comprehensive definition of energy because of its many forms with an interpretation that very much takes the site into context, is inclusive, interactive and accessible. 

View from south gate

The Pavilion, a self-supporting structure, measures approximately 2.75m in height and 64m2 in area. The construction components include bamboo, stainless steel rods, timber, CLT panels and finished with polished aluminium cladding. Supported by solid steel brackets, structured steel ground anchors with carbon steel heads, the entire structure weighs approximately 9,000 kg (9 tonnes). 

View from top onto north seating area

The Pavilion was enjoyed by both visitors to the Museum Gardens as well as those to the V&A Museum of Childhood with views afforded by the great south windows.

The Triumph Pavilion installation is an annual showcase organised by ArchTriumph to spotlight the work of an architect or design team. The team to design the year’s Triumph Pavilion was selected from an international open call to architects and designers to submit proposals based on a predefined theme. 

View showing interaction with spinning 

Configuration

Mills

Movement

Section

Project Facts

Project: Triumph Pavilion 2016 

Project Theme: Energy 

Title: Energy Pavilion (Pinwheel) Materials Bamboo, Steel, CLT Panels and Aluminium 

Sponsors: ArchTriumph 

Structural Engineering: ARUP, London, UK Lead: Vincenzo Reale Christian Dercks Andrew Lawrence 

Project Coordination & Management: ArchTriumph, London, UK 

Design Team: Five Line Projects, London, UK 

Lead: Zhiyun He 

Principle: Laura Virto, Nicola Vendramin, Micaela Nardella

Anchoring: SpiraFix, Newport, UK

Site Total area: 10,520 Square Metres 

Total Permitted Build area: 100 Square Metres Pavilion 

Gross Floor area: 64 Square Metres 

Pavilion Height: 2.75 Metres 

Materials: Bamboo, Steel, CLT Panels and Aluminium Cladding 

Number of Rods: 380 Number of Pinwheels (rounded up to closest 100): 1800 

Overall Structural Weight: 9,000 kg (9 metric tonnes)

Assembly | Installation

Assembly Space: The Concept Space, UK Installation 

Contractors: MDM Props, UK

Project Start Date: 26 October 2015 

Project Complete Date: 09 June 2016

All images © Sergio Grazia and Luc Boegly

> via ArchTriumph