Italian architect Stefano Boeri has designed an origami-inspired pavilion for Venice that creates dramatic, shape-shifting shadows throughout the day. With a name taken from specific type of Korean paper that is made from Mulberry trees, the “Hanji House” pavilion has been constructed from wood and features four steep sides. Its form, according to Boeri, is based on the “playful yet meditative” practice of folding paper in an infinite number of ways.
The pavilion’s striking profile, with one of its so-called “pyramids” standing two metres higher than the other four, is visible from the city’s Grand Canal and is intended to echo the neighbouring Venetian architecture. As the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, interesting shadows are cast across the surrounding gardens. “The entire pavilion evokes local forms, from the Gothic cathedral to the peculiar Renaissance style of the palaces, which wind their way from the Grand Canal to the inner part of the island,” Boeri said. The design means that Hanji House can be folded, moved from its current location within the garden of Palazzo Contarini Polignac, and adapted to different contexts. Its structure is made from laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams, which are incredibly strong and resistant to any bending.
The architect was invited to create the site-specific pavilion by artist Chun Kwang Young, whose exhibition “Times Reimagined” is being shown inside the palazzo. The show features 40 large-scale mulberry-paper reliefs, sculptures and installations – and Boeri responded by turning the paper art into architecture. “The tranquil environment inside Hanji House offers an immersive space for visitors to unwind and explore their inner selves as if walking through the interior of Chun’s works,” adds Boeri.
Boeri is recognised for pushing the boundaries when it comes to architecture. He is perhaps best-known for coining the term “vertical forest”, which he uses to describe the smog-eating buildings that he completely covers in trees and plants to combat air pollution. Other architects and designers are increasingly using their skills in the fight against the climate crisis. Recently, a non-profit named “Design For Good” launched in the hopes of bringing together design directors from world-leading companies to address the world’s most pressing issues.
Hanji House is open to the public from April 23 to November 27.
Palazzo Contarini Polignac
Sestiere Dorsoduro
Venezia
Italy
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