Pop-up Pavilion

This is one of research that I did when I was looking for a case study and inspiration for my design.

Pop-Up Bowooss Bionic Research Pavilion Inspired by Nature's Efficiency.

Ever heard the phrase "less is more"? This is a principle we see constantly in nature. The natural world is a showcase of efficiency, constructing systems that prevent waste and ensure survival of the surrounding ecosystem. Students at The School of Architecture at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany, have incorporated natural principles into a temporary research pavilion inspired by Mother Nature's affinity for sustainable design. 

The shell-like structure is called Bowooss, which, roughly translated, stands for “bionic optimized wood shells with sustainability”. The pavilion’s perforated design resembles a bug’s shell or oval-shaped beehive. Although it’s more open than enclosed, the structure demonstrates both remarkable strength and portability.

The unique pattern used to construct this pavilion lets in natural light from every angle, while still providing lightweight, sustainable shelter. It’s easy to imagine how, if strategically covered with some sort of insulating material, such a criss-crossed design could be used to build affordable residences for low-impact home enthusiasts.

For now, the Bowooss  pavilion offers a unique place to relax on campus while also testing a new technique for architects to consider. The pavilion was even outfitted with swinging hammocks for passersby to rest in.

Research from;

Inhabitat, 2012, By Beth Buczynski 'Pop-Up Bowooss Bionic Research Pavilion Inspired by Nature's Efficiency' [online] http://inhabitat.com/pop-up-bowooss-bionic-research-pavilion-inspired-by-natures-efficiency/ [Access date 27/11/2015]

This pavilion is inspired by mother of nature and it is created for students as it is in university campus. This pavilion offers a place to relax, and the swinging hammocks are there to help people to rest and have reflection time. It is made from wood - natural materials and it is a temporary pavilion.

I chose this design for my research because I also want my pavilion to be a place where people will relax and interact with each other. But I also want my pavilion to be temporary and based on nature, so people have chance to relax and connect with nature for a while even in built core, as this is my main purpose - to bring some nature into build environment. 

About My Design & Design Brief

Pavilion. 


Take a break from daily rush with our Pavilion.

What I want from my project is to connect people with nature through my design and to give people place where they can relax and ''recharge their life force battery''. 

Design which could be placed everywhere in every location. Temporary pavilion that brings some nature aspects to our build environment and society. The purpose of this pavilion will be to design structure and multi space for relaxation, contemplation, and social interaction.

This pavilion will be designed and intended for people that are stressed out because of their work/school/daily problems. I want this pavilion to be like a little break from daily rush and routine after long day. This pavilion should reduce stress and calm the mind and soul and also be a place where people can breathe fresh air and just stop for a while.

My earlier research shows that this is important as nowadays we live in very urban environment and we are disconnected more and more from nature, which is bad for our health and overall well-being. Our society is also very stressed out because of many life's issues. Its proven by many researches that being around the nature have lots of benefits, it have also therapeutic functions for our body and soul.

Because nature is a very important part of our lives and its proven that nature even in small dose like gardening is good for our health (mental and physical) I want to try to use the nature as a device that I can use in my design.

So this pavilion will be outside and will be a spatial device to give people some relaxation space, reflection time also as interaction and recreation place.  

Design brief.

Client - Southampton City Council

Location - One Guildhall Square

Project - ''Reduce your stress and calm your Mind & Soul'' with our Pavilion

End date - 08.05.2016

Business case

The project is about to reduce stress  and help people to calm their minds and souls in this pavilion. Our client want to reduce stress of citizens but also to give them a chance of run away from built environment to deal with daily problems and routines. They state also that lots of people in the UK are suffer from depression and obesity and many more health problems, this can be caused because of the stressful life but also because of lack of natural environment/experience.

We understand how people live nowadays that they are hours and hours at work or school/universities and that they have lots of stress because of different reasons; deadlines, projects, meetings, always trying to be the best, or may be because they hate their jobs or have some family issues. They are also isolate from nature and spend most of their times in front of the screens which is bad for their mood and health.

So the aim of the project is to design a pavilion that will be located somewhere around the City Centre in Southampton, as this is the main concentration of different kind of offices and workplaces, but also there is a university campus (So potentially lots of people that are stressed, depressed, sad or upset). The main role of this pavilion will be to reduce stress and help people to calm their minds and souls even for couple of minutes for a day, which also might help people to deal with other health problems for example; depression or simply tiredness, our client believe that the nature have big influence on our wellbeing and our health, so also the aim is to bring some nature aspects within this pavilion to the heart of the City. We want this pavilion to have different function for different people, some of them can only relax there for a while alone for example on the break, some of the people can use it for daily routine like eat lunch there with friends, outside the building which in some way also could be a form of reflection and relaxation time.

Key findings -  To look at the sites, chose the best one think about approximately size of the pavilion. What materials can be used. How it will show that this is pavilion where people can relax for a while in this daily rush? Overall look of the design.

Project goals, aims and objectives - Design that help people to reduce stress and calm their minds in urban environment. Bringing some nature aspects within a design, to the concrete City.  Nature brings joy and have lots of benefits that help with our mental and physical health, and lack of nature in our life's caused us with problems like: depression, ADHD, obesity, autism and declaim in creativity, this health problems are also caused because of very stressful life which lot's of us have. Pavilion need to be interesting and attractive to involve people in, but also people need to know what this pavilion is for. Another goal is to use natural materials and to think about different function that this pavilion will have, so it will be appropriate for everyone to use and will attract people.

Background research and future aspirations -For our background research we use different kind of natural shapes and patterns to have some inspiration and to  get the first idea of our design, then we look at different designs of similar theme. Future aspirations can be a set of different pavilions around different towns in lots of different locations, but with the same theme to reduce the stress and to calm our mind. It can be that kind of project that appears and everyone knows what this is and what it is for.

Target audience and end - users -  Our audience will be the citizens of Southampton, and it will be for everyone that feel a bit unhappy, tired and stress because of some reason.

Key project stages - Different kind of diagrams to really understand and go deeply into design, how it should be look like to achieve all the goals and functions. Concept drawings and models to test every idea. Evaluate all ideas and chose the best one.

Time scales and deadlines - End of first stage of the project is: 4 of December 2015.  The deadline is for 8 of May 2016.

Deliverables - Drawings, sketches, collages, plans, visualisations.

Nature - Research

As I want my design to be based on nature theme I was doing few researches on the beginning of the unit that could back up my idea.

I was looking at why people should connect with nature and how nature affects us. 

I found out lots of different articles and journals that are explaining why nature is important in our life's and why we should explore the nature daily. 

ScienceDaily says that:

• People feel more alive being outside
• ''Nature is fuel for the soul'' - Richard Ryan
• Nature experience is immportant for out mental and physical health
• Instead of drinking coffee, go outside it is a better way t get energized 

ScienceDaily, 2010 'Spending time in nature makes people feel more alive, study shows' Source - University of Rochester [online]  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100603172219.htm [Access date 26/11/2015]

University of Minesota says that;

• Environment can increase or reduce our stress, which in turn impact our bodies
• Nature or just viewing scenes of nature reduces; anger, fear, and stress
• Nature experience help us cope with pain
• Nature increases attention span later on children with ADHD
• Time spend with nature connect us with nature
• Unpleasant environment; feel anxious, sad, helpless - this elevates your blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and suppresses your immune system. A pleasant environment reverse that. 

Taking Charge/University of Minesota, 2014, Taking charge of your health and wellbeing 'How does nature impact our wellbeing?' [online] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/environment/nature-and-us/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing [Access date 26/11/2015]

WebMD says that;

• 'Nature prescriptions' o help treat a variety of medical conditions, from post-cancer fatigue to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Many health care researchers and practitioners say that ecotherapy (also known as green therapy, nature therapy, and earth-centered therapy) -- a term coined by pastoral counselor Howard Clinebell in his 1996 book of the same name -- can have regenerative powers, 
• Walk in the country reduces depression in 71% of participans
• 5 minutes in natural settings improve our mood, self-esteem, and motivation

WebMD, Health and balance, 2015, By Carol Sorgen 'Do you need a nature prescription?' [online] http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy [Access date 26/11/2015]

This is just three research summary that I did for my project. Rest of it I have in my book where I collect everything that I do for my Feasibility Project. I did this researches to help me to understand how nature is important for us, which it also back up my design idea as I want to design a pavilion/shelter that will connect people with nature and will help them to relax. 

Guildhall Square

After showing my tutor all 3 sites, we decided that the Guildhall Square site is the most interesting, and the mos appropriate for my project (even if I'm still struggle a bit with my design). There is lots of open space where I can put my pavilion. It will also make good contrast to the site as I want my design to be from natural materials, and because on the site are lots of concrete, which make it a bit depressing. 
Site is very open which give lots of free space for my design and people will be able to move easily around the pavilion. 
Guildhall Square is in the middle of cultural quarter which bring lots of different people every day. 

Then I was asked to observe my site in different days and in different times, so I will know how the social life looks there.

Panoramic view from W. Marlands Rd

Above Bar Street/Direction City Centre

One Guildhall Building/Business Centre

Why this site is good for my project

Site plan

Different view of my site

O2 Guildhall 

Southampton Solent University Conference Centre

New Art Complex/ Under construction

One Guildhall Building

My Sites

When I was looking for my sites I was thinking where the most potential customers will be, and also to have interesting surrounding.

Site 1. Southampton University Campus. (Green space in front of the University Library)

Pictures from - Google.com

Site 2. Guildhall Square/West Marlands Road (Southampton)

Site 3. Mayflower Park (Port in Southampton)

Pictures from - Google.com

Brain storm nr 2

My idea of the design is still not very clear and need to be more specific, also I need to fully understand what I mean by my design, who it is for and what my clients are.
I still want to design something that will be in touch with nature and will be outside for people use. I chose my audience to be people that have lots of stress and need a minute to slow dawn from daily rush. I still want my design to be from natural material so it will be a fresh accent for urban core.


My brain storm nr 2:
- Nature
- Less - technology
- Natural materials
- Shelter/pavilion
- Urban environment
- Health benefits
- Including nature aspects in design
- Bring some nature to the urban core
- Green spot in built environment
- Attract people with my design

October/November

This first two months was to discover and explore what we want to do for our feasibility project which then we will continue for our final major project, and also at the same time we think about our dissertation title which should help us with our project.

From the beginning when I was thinking of my design I want it to be something based on nature, for people use, something small but compact, where people can relax or spend time with friends. I know how stressful life could be now-days, people spend more and more time in front of the screens forgetting about 'outside' world.

My brain storm nr 1 - Lack of nature in built environment make that people are suffer more and more from depression, stress and other health problems. I want to look on how natural environment are affect humans health and behaviour. This lead me to:
- Shelter/pavilion/outdoor design
- Outdoor design
- Connect people with nature through design
- Interactive pavilion
- Design that brings nature to the build core
- Natural materials
- Reducing stress (How?)
- Nature in interiors

Now I am after couple of tutorials on which I discuss with my tutor, my ideas and thoughts.

Tutor comments  :
Nature and interiors...very vague at the moment. 
You need to make this a specific project about something. 

In what context is this relaxation taking place?

Looking at Southampton university green spaces.

But these are open spaces which implies buildings ...so what are you intending to design?

Who is this for and who is your client?

To give people a place where they can choose to be alone or with other people.

What do people need? What research do you have to show what people need? You cannot just rely on your own guesswork (which is what you are also doing in your essay) to prove a point?

You need to take YOUR photos of the sites to show us what is actually there...take photos at different times to show activity.

You need to stop being lazy in your approach to analysing your site.

I already have 3 sites analysis and I chose one to be for my design.
I'm still not sure on how my project will look like, and I'm a bit struggle with it... I was talking with my study group about my ideas which was actually very helpful and help me a bit to make my idea more specific.