Architectural Association (AA) Emergent Technologies & Design (EmTech) Post-Graduate Programme and Hassell Studio have collaborated to create a new pavilion in Bedford Square. Titled Re-Emerge, the research agenda of the Pavilion is situated within the framework of production in a world with limited resources. The project emphasises the pavilion's ecological impact from the early phases of the design process onwards.

Construction waste is useful.
Wood is inherently the best bio-fabricated and biodegradable material. When a timber building is demolished after several decades, it does not produce useless waste, but generates reclaimed wood that can be re-used and re-purposed, hence becoming part of the circular economy. Re-Emerge is created with grade A reclaimed wood pallets.

Complexity arises from simplicity.
Morphological and structural complexity was adopted by the variable aggregation of similar modules that are formed by scoring and steam-bending. The modules are assembled with lap joints, diminishing the need for secondary materials in the joinery system.

The conscious attitude of the project towards the environment is maintained in its fabrication and instalment.
The employment of life cycle assessment (LCA) in our computational workflows has facilitated to take into consideration CO2 emissions associated with not only the material itself, but also its origins and transportation to site.

Third Life
At the end of its second lifecycle, part of the pavilion was erected in Hassell Studio and part of it was sent back to the timber recycling facilities where it was resourced from. The ambition of Re-Emerge is to create a strong dialogue between the local timber industry and its by-products.

To take a virtual tour of the pavilion, enabled by Matterport technology, please visit:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=Pn7GjFWAmup

Acknowledgements

EmTech
Programme Director: Dr. Elif Erdine
Founding Director: Dr. Michael Weinstock
Studio Master: Dr. Milad Showkatbakhsh
Teaching Faculty: Abhinav Chaudhary, Eleana Polychronaki, Lorenzo Santelli, Felipe Oeyen

EmTech 2020-22 and EmTech 2021-23 students and Volunteers across the AA

Hassell
Principal & Head of Design: Xavier De Kestelier
Computational Design Lead: Jonathan Irawan

Sponsors: Hassell, BuroHappold Engineering, One Click LCA
Photography: Studio NAARO ©