Commissioned by the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities, Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects’ Light Pavilion design is open and transparent, encouraging participation. With an area of 1,200 square meters, the multi-purpose structure will house a range of planned and spontaneous activities. The architects’ vision was to create a space in which a multitude of events could take place in and around it.
While the actual structure is currently under construction, a model of the building is on display at the Danish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale, alongside 15 other models of buildings that are deemed to be a source of national pride. The theme for this year’s Danish pavilion focuses on "architecture that benefits local communities," a quality the Light Pavilion encapsulates.
As its name suggests, the pavilion is light-filled. A steel framework and textile roof provides shelter from the wind and rain, while its transparent vinyl facades create "visible contact" between the pavilion and the surrounding environment. Its open quality serves a double-purpose; it minimizes the use of artificial light during the summer months and creates a luminous quasi-outdoor environment during winter.
Andersen and Sigurdsson’s schematic design is infinitely adaptable and bears references to other lightweight structures such as tipis or Bedouin tents. Their malleable nature is reflected in the ability for the Light Pavilion to be placed in a rural or urban setting, and its façade can be opened and closed depending on the weather conditions. This not only allows the pavilion to be used year-round but also accommodates activities from a variety of user groups.
