Driftwood

Driftwood by AA Unit 2

Home to international architectural alumnae such as Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas and Lord Rogers, the AA School has led the way with its radical, innovative and experimental approach since 1847. The summer pavilion competition winner Driftwood is just one example of the vibrant projects on offer this July when the school’s Projects Review transforms Bedford Square into a showcase for the future greats of the art and architecture world.

Now in its fourth year of building pavilions, Intermediate Unit 2 pavilion projects are led by tutors Charles Walker and Martin Self with technical advice from ARUP, this year led by Ching Luan Lau, Senior Engineer. The unit challenges students to create architectural space through the construction of a sustainable timber pavilion and is also sponsored by HOK architects who pride themselves on their global reach and ability to respond to the most demanding of design challenges. Driftwood is on show in Bedford Square until 25 July 2009.

Driftwood was designed by concept designer Danecia Sibingo a 3rd year student, and a team that includes Lyn Hayek, Yoojin Kim, and Taeyoung Lee. It is neither art nor architecture, science nor ecological adventure, but a sculptural installation and prototype that defies classification. It embraces invention, experimentation, new materials and aesthetic intelligence. The pavilion was selected by a panel of seven eminent judges from the worlds of architecture, engineering, design, media and ecology. It provides a thoughtful, provoking reminder of the UK’s inextricable link to the sea - its undulating form created by the motion of the water, carried by waves and coming to rest in busy central London.

Driftwood consists of an internal, sustainable spruce ‘Kerto’ plywood structure supplied by ecological Finnish timber suppliers FinnForest and adheres to a target of minimal material wastage. It was fabricated at Hooke Park, the Architecture Association’s 350-acre campus and workshop in West Dorset where the 2006 winning Fractal pavilion is permanently installed. The winning pavilion for 2007, Bad Hair was donated and re-homed at Kingston Maurward College, Dorset.