Pavilion, Kolkata, India

Competition, 1st Prize

Timber construction has exercised a profound influence upon the traditional architecture of India. For over five hundred years wood was the material of choice for new buildings, leading to the development of an architectural language that was later translated to, and imitated in, stone construction. Our proposals for the central pavilion at the Kolkata Book Fair combines the development of a tectonic language from timber construction methods with an exploration of jute textiles as a means of defining space.

In doing so we aim to produce a pavilion whose character responds to local construction and manufacturing traditions in a meaningful and contemporary way. Externally the exposed structure creates an ordered rhythm to the facades, giving the pavilion a calm and still presence within the Book Fair, while internally the combination of exposed timber and filtered light creates an adaptable series of rich contemplative spaces. At night the pavilion will act as a 'lantern' giving the pavilion an intriguing presence by both day and night.

Client: British Council

Cost: -

Area: 400 sqm

Status: Unrealised

The pavilion is intended to be fully flexible; able to accommodate the multiple functions required during the Kolkata Book Fair. Within the single space, volumes can be screened off when desired through the use of patterned jute curtains; the effect of this arrangement is that day-to-day the character of the pavilion appreciably changes as curtains are closed/opened, creating a changing sense of space and intimacy within the building.

The technology is such that all components can be manually handled and constructed by workers with only basic joinery skills. Additionally, the structure could be relocated elsewhere after the event, or completely recycled.