The Art Fund Pavilion

Location: First show at London Design Festival 2009 for Tent London and then home to The Lightbox, Woking
Client: The Lightbox, Woking’s new gallery and museum.
Status: Shortlisted on a two stage competition.
Contract Value: to be decided

At first glance The Clic-Clac Pavilion appears impenetrable, mirrored on all sides it reflects its surroundings like a faceted rough cut jewel.

Flush doors pivot, slide up, or flip open to reveal the secret white interior and create a variety of different configurations for different functions. The form of the pavilion takes its cue from the angular shape of the site and the arrangement of the existing building. The two frameless glazed ends have been sized and positioned so that they bear a distinct relationship to the large picture windows of The Lightbox. When in cafe mode, for example, one end flips up to make a canopy between the pavilion and the cafe opposite.

At the other end of the pavilion, a two-way mirrored panel slides up, as if to say hello, perhaps to signal the opening of an exhibition or special event. 

In elevation as you approach, the windows of the Lightbox in the background merge together with the raised glass panel. This end of the pavilion rakes up with a set of steps inside, forming a mini amphitheatre seating area when in lecture mode.

Two large pivoting doors open up on the terrace side creating a little semi-private courtyard just outside the pavilion and an outdoor space for exhibitions or cafe seating.

The Lightbox have created a fantastic opportunity for a wonderful piece of micro-architecture, and we hope to give them a pavilion that is high impact but low-cost, one that is sustainable and efficient in its use of materials, flexible in its architecture, and ultimately a pavilion that has a bit of magic about it, a bit of intrigue, and almost certainly some naughtiness.

See the other shortlisted entries here and judge for yourself!

http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/artfundpavilion/shortlist2009.html