The Fantastic Trailer, designed by Cheryl Baxter, is a mobile pavilion aimed at being a delightful experience as the interruption of columns and seating areas force the architecture into the conversation, setting the stage for engaging social experience. Developed as ethereal forms, the draft columns blur the line between drapery and structure, and invite the viewer to feel the supporting air movement. The circular seating areas on the pavilion create small conversation circles intermittently invaded by the draft columns. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The trailer frame came from a stripped down camper trailer that was reinforced and reconstructed as a platform. The circular openings hold the fans in the “off” position and become seating areas when the project is erected. The trailer frame supports five thin metal columns that hang industrial fans attached to ripstop nylon, organza and Aluminet Draft Columns – so named because of the Aluminet strip that runs down their interior seams that lets a continuous airflow through.
The Draft Columns themselves seem alive in their interaction with the audience. They appear to dance with the slightest air movement and the scrim appears to breath in and out with the air coming from the vents.
Architect: Cheryl Baxter Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States Draft Column Sewing: Motor City Sewing Steel Fabrication: Golin Construction Electrical: Jeff Baxter Materials: Aluminet, Ripstop Nylon, Foam Flooring, Organza, Industrial Fans, Steel columns, Astroturf, Used Trailer Area: Varies, approximately 1000 sf Year: 2012
