Garden pavilion in Koblenz by students from Trier

In mid-April, a remarkable structure was opened at the entrance to the Federal Garden Exhibition (BUGA – Bundesgartenschau) in Koblenz, serving as a joint presentation for the Chamber of Commerce in Koblenz and the University of Applied Sciences in Trier. The temporary pavilion named “Treehugger” was created in the square in front of the St. Kastor Basilica under the guidance of Holger Hoffmann (a long-time collaborator of UN Studio and a professor of “digital design” at FH Trier) and with the help of construction companies OSD Frankfurt and Ochs Holzbau/Kirchberg. The pavilion is conceived as a place for gatherings, mutual communication, exhibitions, and also as a workshop with a 'colorful classroom' for hosting professional events and seminars. The unusual shape is intended to support these differing functions while retaining its unique characteristics: the exhibition circuit is as clearly readable from the floor plan as the central layout for hosting ceremonial events or connecting with the workshops. The space clearly displays a mix of different spatial types that arose from the ambivalent overlapping of clear functional arrangements. The symmetrical grid of pentagonal modules had to accommodate a mature linden tree in the middle of the layout. Deformations of this regular three-dimensional grid create five ornamental connections between the floor and the ceiling. The goal of this project was to research digital design, its application in the construction process, and experimental implementation. Ceiling LED lights can interactively respond and create various atmospheres in the pavilion.
The pavilion will be open in Koblenz until October 16, 2011 (from 9:00 AM to sunset) and after the conclusion of the Federal Garden Exhibition, it will be disassembled and relocated to the new Center for Health and Nutrition (ZEG) in Koblenz, where it is intended to be used for exhibitions and informational lectures.

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