The Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris, with the presence of Benjamin Ball and students from the 6th Semester Atelier 3x of the Ecole Speciale, inaugurated the 2012 Ball-Nouges studio ‘Pavillon Speciale’. This marks the 2nd edition of the summer architecture series that gives young emerging international architects the opportunity to build with students a temporary pavilion project in the heart of Paris. Curated and conceived by Matteo Cainer in the summer of 2010, the series is unique worldwide because it establishes a bridge between the architectural profession and academia, becoming therefore an integral part of the educational program of the school. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The series is an ongoing program of innovative temporary structures built by emerging international architects under the age of 45. Once a year, students of the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture have the opportunity to build, along side the selected architect, a new experimental pavilion for the large rectangular outdoor garden that is an essential part of the School.
The Pavilion is a unique structure, in architecture terminology; the phrase that describes a system whose form is derived from the deformation of its materials under force is “form active.” This type of structure is difficult to study using software. It often requires architects to explore their designs by testing full-scale mock-ups, and using that empirical information to help inform the process of digital modelling, which is studied in the studio rather than in the field.
The structure is comprised of approximately 200 “cells”, each made from locally sourced plastic tubing that will be bent and curled in custom jigs designed and constructed by students. To provide shade, each cell will have a locally sourced sheet material spanning between the tubes within it. The cell module is a very effective way of constructing a temporary structure: each can be transported as a flat unit and rapidly assembled on site; when it is time for the structure to come down, dismantling and transportation to a new site is easy.
They are now approaching the date for the final Jury for the 2nd edition. The international Jury will declare the winner. The jury is composed of:
Iñaki Abalos Founder Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos (SP) Jean-Max Collard Architectural Journalist Les Inrocks (FR) Kristin Feireiss Founder of Aedes Gallery Berlin (GR) Massimiliano Fuksas Director of Studio Fuksas (IT) David Keuning Director of MARK magazine (NL) Sylvia Lavin Director of Critical Studies MA/PhD Program UCLA (US) Claude Parent Architect, teacher and writer (FR)
Project: Ball Nogues Studio Studio Assistant: Baptiste Bonijoly Ecole Spéciale Students: Antoniotti Bruno, Bellanger Alexandra, Bennis Selim, Boinot Julien, Bruel Laura, Budin Olivier, Cargill Maxime, Claudet Ariel De Lacvivier Matthieu, Delalande Nicolas, Dubois Nina, Ducroux Hubert, Fishler Raphael, Fournier Adrien, Haudrechy Felix, Hudson Leo, Lambert Pierre, Liagre Victoire, Maleyrat Jean, Merle Daubigne Ariane, Mougel Raphael, Noury Pola, Pradeau Pauline, Seguin Pauline, Veryra Camille, Wertheimer Astrid Curator Pavillon Speciale: Matteo Cainer Location: Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris, France
