Pavilion Swissbau 2016 Basel

0196Pavilion Swissbau 2016 Basel

The concept of the Special Exhibition Pavil­ion for Swissbau 2016 at Messe Basel emerged from the idea of oppos­ing the classical trade fair structure, with its clearly distinct spaces, with an open but none­theless clearly defined building.

Thanks to the excep­tional rigidity of beech­wood, it proved possible to execute all of the construc­tive connecting elements of the timber struc­ture, which is to say the joints between beams and supports, exclusively in timber. Used were tradi­tional mortise and tenon connec­tions, which are fixed in place with beechwood dowels. The accessible wooden struc­ture, situated centrally at the entrance, eloquently embodies the principle of sustain­ability. Consisting of 435 individual parts, the ellip­soidal, two-story pavilion can be rapidly assembled and dismantled. The inter­spaces between the circum­ferential supports are hung with a white, trans­lucent curtain material. Open­ings and views can be generated as desired by tying back the fabric laterally, under­scoring the light­ness and flexi­bility of the construc­tion. The elegant pavilion, whose support struc­ture and stairs are construc­ted in Black beech­wood, capti­vates by virtue of its sleek aesthe­tic while demon­strating the enor­mous potential of this high-perfor­mance build­ing material. Found on the ground level is an info area, a bistro, and a back­stage area that is delimi­ted by black, opaque curtains. The upper level offers a place for tempo­rary exhibi­tions and con­tains the VIP area.