Paper Pavilion

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Date: September 2017 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Area: 10m2 Function: Pavilion Status: Built Structural design: Yohei Tomioka Sponsor: VICE Denmark, Musling bistro, Underbroen, Wasara Organiser: CHART

Paper Pavilion explores paper as an architectural material through a temporary structure made from upcycled paper waste. Originally created for CHART Art Fair in Copenhagen, the project questions how long temporary architecture should last and proposes “appropriate durability” as an approach to sustainable design. The pavilion was later redesigned and relocated to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, extending its life beyond the original event.

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The fifth edition of CHART invited pavilion proposals addressing sustainable construction, fabrication methods, urbanisation, and upcycled materials. In response, PAN- PROJECTS proposes the idea of “appropriate durability”: rather than designing for excessive permanence, the pavilion is conceived with materials calibrated to the lifespan of the event. From this standpoint, Paper Pavilion explores paper as a primary architectural material for a three-day art fair. Paper is not only recyclable but also structurally capable within this timeframe. Its limited durability becomes a defining quality, aligning the material with the temporality of the pavilion and suggesting an alternative approach to sustainable design. The project draws inspiration from the bagworm, a small insect that constructs its shelter from materials found in its immediate surroundings. Similarly, the pavilion is clad with paper collected from the city, embedding traces of everyday urban activity within its surface. The façade reflects the life of the city while creating moments of interaction between visitors and the structure. This sense of play emerges directly from treating used paper as a building material. After the event, the materials can re-enter existing recycling streams, allowing the pavilion to return to the material cycle without additional processes. The structure itself is designed to be movable, enabling it to be relocated and reconfigured in different contexts. With each iteration, the pavilion can incorporate new materials, reflecting the character of its surroundings. Following the Copenhagen Art Fair, the pavilion was permanently relocated to the entrance hall of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, where it continues to function as a reception desk and bookshop.

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