Submitted by WA Contents
Various Associates used recycled materials to build pavilion reducing waste in an exhibition area
China Architecture News - Mar 03, 2021 - 12:56 6459 views
Various Associates has used recycled materials, including waste plastic and wood, to build this blue-colored pavilion at DESIGN IN BAY AREA Exhibition, the architects conceived the pavilion as the representative of Shenzhen.
Named Pavilion for Design in Bay Area Exhibition, the pavilion was created for DESIGN IN BAY AREA, which was co-organized by several design institutes from the Greater Bay Area, and was co-curated by 21 designers from 8 cities in the region.
As conceiving the exhibition hall, Various Associates had to consider Shenzhen's leading role in this event while also taking account of the demands and characters of all design institutes involved.
Image © Yongmao Li
Concept
With favourable geographic conditions, Shenzhen has developed into a charming modern metropolis over the decades, and trade ports have become one of its economic pillars. Meanwhile, like ocean waves, talents are rapidly pushing the city forward.
The sea is inclusive as it admits hundreds of rivers, so is Shenzhen. It's a quite inclusive and vigorous city. Various Associates took its character as the design inspiration and thread, which surrounds the exhibitions of the eight cities. The team hoped to enable cultural exchanges and fusion among the cities, and to express the infinities of design. That's how the design concept and storyline "Wave" came into being.
Image © Yongmao Li
Prototype generation
Various Associates adopted recycled materials and modular construction method to reduce waste. The modular units enabled rapid assembly and disassembly on the site, and were also easy for transportation and storage. The design team abandoned "cool" reinforced concrete structures, but chose panels made from waste plastic and wood instead, to realize recycle and reuse of materials.
Image © Yongmao Li
Reuse of wasted plastic & wood
Chair, desk, wall or architecture?
Various Associates intended to break the boundary of the structures, which can shift among modules, space and architecture, in order to show more variations and possibilities. As deepening the form, the team also emphasized the productization and functionality of modules. Moreover, considering that furniture manufacturing industry is another distinctive feature of Shenzhen, the designers turned each modular unit into a valuable piece of furniture, which can be combined in various playful manners.
Image © Yongmao Li
"We hope to break the singular function of products. For instance, desk is a simple and common object in our daily life, but it can also be turned into wall, space or architecture rather than being restricted to its inherent function. We want to show the public more fun and imagination, and allow them to easily perceive the charm of design," said Various Associates founder.
As conceiving the modules, the design team referred to traditional mortise-and-tenon joints and the way that wooden furniture is assembled, and at the same time incorporated the flowing form of ocean waves. In this manner, they eventually figured out the shape of modular units, which were named "Wave".
Image © Yongmao Li
Assembly
Open day
The designers adopted environment-friendly, sustainable and quantifiable design approaches to work out the spatial pattern and circulation solutions, while also time subtly integrating the elements of products, furniture and pavilion, thereby producing a flexible spatial form that can be adjusted on the site according to different demands.
Image © Yongmao Li
Disassembly & Reuse
Bearing in mind the intentions of pollution reduction, environment protection and material reuse, Various Associates entrusted the organizer and the party in charge of dismantling work to recycle the modules after the exhibition, and send them to the next destination, a school project they are working on.
Those "Waves" will be utilized to modular assembly in art teaching activities in Art high school and will be also turned into installations, useful tables and chairs.
Image © Yongmao Li
Image © Yongmao Li
Image © Yongmao Li
Disassembly process. Image © Zebing Li
On-site assembly. Image © Zebing Li
Curves. Image © Various Associates
Deepening. Image © Various Associates
Like weaves, modular units can be freely stacked and combined at staggering heights. Image © Various Associates
Multiple variations and possibilities. Image © Various Associates
Common mortise and tenon joints & joints of wooden furniture. Image © Various Associates
Assembly of 'weaves'. Image © Various Associates
Enclosure wall. Image © Various Associates
Small pavilion. Image © Various Associates
Project info
Project name: Pavilion for Design in Bay Area Exhibition
Client: Shenzhen Institute of Interior Design
Location: Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center
Status: Completed, Aug 2020
Design team: Various Associates
Project leader: Qianyi Lin
Designer team: Dongzi Yang, Zebing Li, Zhichao Lin
Top image © Yongmao Li
All images © Zebing Li, Yongmao Li
> via Various Associates