TYPE:

LOCATION: London, UK

PARTNERS: Concrete Centre, AKT, London Met

The prototypical character of the HOM_pavilion can be broken down into three main categories: materials and fabrication, reproducibility, and socio-cultural impact.

MATERIAL AND FABRICATION

Two main reasons make this pavilion a prototypical structure: innovative use of materials generally associated to traditional uses, and experimental construction techniques. Cement and fibre-cement are often perceived as “poor” and “heavy” materials whose qualities do not go well with the fabrication of complex geometries and high-end constructions. Not only is the HOM_pavilion going to demonstrate that elegant shapes can be easily built in cement, but also that cement can be an extremely light material by pushing the thickness of the structural elements to their limits. By adopting the so-called “file to factory” approach, the fabrication process itself becomes experimental. The HOM_pavilion will actually be quite unique in applying these new methods of production to cement and to architectural scale. In fact, “file to factory” manufactory processes are often utilized by other sectors of the construction industry such as the car and the boat industry. The result is a cheaper prefabricated structure that can easily be transported and assembled.

REPETITION (future use)

The material and formal properties of the HOM_pavilion can fit a series of future uses ranging from residential, commercial, to leisure. The shape of the roof is such that allows light to penetrate from above creating dramatic effects. This character could become very important in residential infillings where is often difficult to get proper lighting conditions (see as a precedent Caruso St. John’s Brick House in London, 2001-4). For the same reasons, HOM_pavilion could also house a kindergarden which could also take advantage of the playful landscape provided by the undulating roof. Because of its fabrication concept, HOM_pavilion could also become an ideal structure for temporary programs that need to be quickly put in place and that often have to struggle with limited budgets. These could be: temporary markets, festivals, art exhibitions, temporary stand of a concrete company in a trade fair, structure for outdoor events such as concerts or theatrical plays, etc.

SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT

One of the aims of the HOM_pavilion is to activate the public space in Homerton to bring life in a rundown area of London. To activate the local community they have to fully participate in local projects. Workshops with local schools can create a form of LOCAL ENGAGEMENT with future users and clients of the area, and create a form of local appropriation. One way of doing this is to clad the building completely or partially in fibre-cement and inviting school children to help texture the panels. The skin becomes a local wrap with hands of a generation shaping its surface.