Japan Pavilion, Expo 2000, Hannover
Hannover, Germany · 2000
Photo · Photos by Hiroyuki Hirai
A key precedent for lightweight gridshell structures and paper-tube architecture, demonstrating how a translucent membrane and lattice shell can create a vast, column-free exhibition hall.
- What we like about this project
- The floor is a semi-transparent white mesh that allows visual connection to the exhibition space below.
Materials
- paper-tubes
- timber
- membrane-fabric
- mesh-flooring
- steel-connectors
Visual identifiers
- gridshell-structure
- paper-tube-architecture
- translucent-canopy
- mesh-floor
- expo-pavilion
Style tags
- structural-expressionism
- organic-minimalism
- high-tech
Visual tags
- lightweight-structure
- temporary-pavilion
- gridshell
- biophilic-design
- sustainable-materials
- diffused-daylight
- Geometry
- A sweeping, catenary-like gridshell vault composed of intersecting curved members forming a diagonal lattice pattern.
- Facade system
- Translucent membrane skin layered over a structural paper-tube gridshell.
- Structural guess
- Three-dimensional paper-tube gridshell reinforced with timber and steel cable ties.
- Spatial scale
- Large-scale monumental pavilion hall with a wide, column-free span.
- Lighting
- Bright, highly diffused daylight filtering through the translucent membrane skin, eliminating harsh shadows.
- Atmosphere
- An airy, weightless, and serene atmosphere created by the warm wood tones and soft, filtered white light.
- Environmental context
- An indoor pavilion exhibition space with controlled climate, featuring integrated green sculptural elements.
- Spatial experience
- An expansive, light-filled hall sheltered under a soaring, semi-translucent canopy, with a semi-transparent mesh floor that reveals glimpses of the level below.
- Composition rhythm
- The repeating diagonal grid of the paper tubes creates a dense, rhythmic pattern that curves overhead.
- Style reading
- Organic high-tech structural expressionism
- Program
- Exhibition pavilion
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- paper-tubes, timber, membrane-fabric, mesh-flooring, steel-connectors
- Visual identifiers
- gridshell-structure, paper-tube-architecture, translucent-canopy, mesh-floor, expo-pavilion
- Style tags
- structural-expressionism, organic-minimalism, high-tech
- Visual tags
- lightweight-structure, temporary-pavilion, gridshell, biophilic-design, sustainable-materials, diffused-daylight
- Geometry
- A sweeping, catenary-like gridshell vault composed of intersecting curved members forming a diagonal lattice pattern.
- Facade system
- Translucent membrane skin layered over a structural paper-tube gridshell.
- Structural guess
- Three-dimensional paper-tube gridshell reinforced with timber and steel cable ties.
- Spatial scale
- Large-scale monumental pavilion hall with a wide, column-free span.
- Lighting
- Bright, highly diffused daylight filtering through the translucent membrane skin, eliminating harsh shadows.
- Atmosphere
- An airy, weightless, and serene atmosphere created by the warm wood tones and soft, filtered white light.
- Environmental context
- An indoor pavilion exhibition space with controlled climate, featuring integrated green sculptural elements.
- Spatial experience
- An expansive, light-filled hall sheltered under a soaring, semi-translucent canopy, with a semi-transparent mesh floor that reveals glimpses of the level below.
- Composition rhythm
- The repeating diagonal grid of the paper tubes creates a dense, rhythmic pattern that curves overhead.
- Style reading
- Organic high-tech structural expressionism
- Program
- Exhibition pavilion
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture