Open Spaces - Urban Pavilions
A few days ago the 16th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale was launched. It involves 65 countries, over 100 individual projects and many other side events and exhibitions.
For this year's edition, the curators formulated the concept FREESPACE. The FREESPACE concept combines the ideas of accessibility, generosity, humanity, democracy. FREESPACE focuses on the quality of the living environment it creates, on its interconnections with nature, with history, with the cultural identity of society.
If you missed our theme for FREESPACE,as well as an overview of the Biennale, you can read more in the article Free Spaces.
The presented projects, concepts and spatial installations are diverse and present different approaches and interpretations of the given theme.
Some of the most interesting projects presented are those that develop modern or futuristic concepts for the design of public spaces and urban furniture
A striking trend in contemporary urban design and architecture of public spaces are the so-called "urban pavilions" or literally translated "urban shelters".
| A building that provides shade and freedom of use - a place to breathe while contemplating the surrounding landscape. |
Urban pavilions (urban shelters) are separate, covered or open, freely accessible spaces for recreation, meetings, work.
They are pleasant, free spaces for various common activities scattered in the urban environment and accompanying the urban daily life, democratic and accessible spaces with many possibilities of use.
These micro architectural elements provide shelter, shade or seating and are directly related to modern urban life.
Their function is often mixed, such as providing free internet access, places to recharge mobile devices, places to grab a quick bite to eat or send an email, places to rest , a place to leave a bike, etc.
These are places of collective urban coexistence, which are small infrastructural facilities that connect the urban fabric and support the social and cultural integration of particular groups in society.
Sometimes extremely simple and other times complex and high-tech, due to their small scale, urban pavilions are very suitable for the application of experimental structural and spatial solutions, as well as for picturesque and innovative design.
Urban pavilions are a direct reflection of the needs of urban life and the quality of the built environment.
| Collective space for recreation and growing herbs, vegetables and flowers / Pavilion Denmark |
| Interactive bench sockets for charging mobile devices Edison Mobile |
| Bench for relaxation, group gathering, meetings / Pavilion Italy |
| Shaping the entrance space by means ofa stretched parametric vinyl structure, as a place that intrigues and invites visitors to enter, a place for casual meetings of users and passers-by/ Pavilion Denmark / |
| Detail of 3D printed lace from parametric pavilion / Pavilion Croatia |
| the structure woven from rods and ropes,offers shelter, seating and resting areas, equipped with an open wi-fi network, and an extremely pleasant patterned shade .This bamboo "cave" is a small oasis - a place to "recharge", take a breath and admire the surrounding landscape |
| Detail of a comprehensive urban design concept for public spaces in a Parisian suburb, including a metro stop, market and urban furniture. An urban canopy for various freely accessible public activities will be woven with fibers, delicate yet resistant to weather and climate./ Pavilion MiralesTagliabue / |
Text and photos : Gergana Tileva