Pop-Up Architecture

Fiberglass and resin have gone a long way even in a temporary basis. Quite a misleading statement but this holds true when we are talking about pop-up architecture. The Guardian defines it as “temporary constructions intended to enliven public places.” Architecture is often viewed as permanent, built with a particular function such as schools, office, restaurants, cinemas and houses. But now architecture can pop out from anywhere in only a span of weeks. You just need an ample space to construct your architectural masterpiece.

Pop-up architecture is not only made of fiberglass and resin. It can be made of glass, stone, aluminum, wood, and even plastic. Installations such as these already existed since 58 B.C.E in ancient Rome, according to Curbed. They built grand wooden structures which function as a stage during plays or festivals.

It can be as small as a house or as humungous as a concert hall. It became the “calling cards” of young architects who are just entering the construction scene. An artist can simply just pull out his portfolio to show his works. But how can an architect show what he is capable of? The obvious and concrete answer is a pop-up or temporary architecture that he can easily disassemble afterwards.

Here are some of the examples:

Serpentine Pavilion

Perhaps the Serpentine Pavilion of Zaha Hadid started the pop-up movement in 2000. It is an inaugural pavilion which resembles a large tent or marquee.

This year, the Serpentine Pavilion is joined with four summer houses designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).

Source: serpentinegalleries.org

This is under the program of Serpentine Galleries called “Build Your Own Pavilion: Young Architects Competition” which encourages young architects everywhere to design pavilions of the future. 

Tentative

Source: gizmag.com

It is a disaster-relief home you can assemble on your own. It is kind of a DIY home designed by Designnobis with fiberglass roof and floor and weather-resistant fabric walls.

The Filling Station

Source: architecture.com

From an old petrol station to a canal-side café, this is the Filling Station designed by Carmody Groarke mainly made from fiberglass.

Fukita Pavilion

Source: designboom.com

Believe it or not, this is a pavilion with just two sweeping curved planes designed by Ryue Nishizawa.

Mark’s House

Source: Two Islands

A house? Where is it? It seems futuristic or simply “invisible”, hanging or floating above the ground and coated in a reflective mylar skin. This wonder of a pop-architecture was designed by Two Islands and won 1st place in Flint, MI.

Ark Nova

Source: designboom.com

A design by Anish Kapoor and Arata Isozaki which is regarded as the world’s first inflatable concert hall. Yup, it is inflatable like a kiddie pool and can accommodate 500 people.

Porch Parade

Source: vancouver.ca

An attention-grabbing design by Design With because of its colorful shades and the winning entry of last year’s Robson Redux Design competition.

La Bulle Pirate (The Pirate Bubble)

Source: popupcity.net

Pop-up architectures aren’t only built from the ground up. It can also pop out on the façade of a building like this one. It was developed by Jean-Louis Chanéac in 1971. The materials used to create this “parasitic bedroom” are laminates, resins, glass fiber, reinforced polyester and foam, as told by Pop-Up City. 

Although pop-up architectures aren’t permanent, it is good to know that the world of architectural design and engineering is still giving importance to making temporal but useful structures because, to be honest, structures like the Tentative could save a lot of lives.

An article by: http://www.polymerprod.com/

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