IDEA Calzone

Eric remarked, that he liked Joern´s idea "Xscape" - but it would definitely need some kind of roof to it. Here come a sequence of images showing how the Xscape may get it´s roof: by simply folding the platform. Just like a Pizza Calzone it is an "Allover wrap" that contains all the good things inside: steps to sit on, showboxes, a small stage, or a water pond perhaps...

IDEA Xscape extended

Here is a set of sketches for another variation on Joern´s idea of an exhibition landscape ("Xscape"). The platform got a bit more volume, a level-step to sit on, and a variety of showboxes, large and small. We may think about whether placing this "stepped" and "morphed" landscape on the hill-slope too. Another addition might be to include one or another of the existing trees into the platform.

IDEA On Top and Underneath Platform

These sketches Micha has made during a boring "Fakultaetsratsitzung". The images show an alternative to the "platform" idea, especially how to extend the platform from the hill-slope. Thus a deck to walk on and an exhibition space underneath can be created. One small images on the upper center takes reference to Alise´s idea of a walk-in object in the shape of a shelf-box.

IDEA Joern´s X-scape

I thought the wooden platform of yesterday´s blog to be quite atmospheric, so I developed the "e(X)hibition-land(scape)" from it (rather say: quickly put down some sketches). As I like the embedding of a wooden surface into a garden ground quite a lot, I conceived the PAO.micromuseum as an outdoor-museum-landscape - one that is always open and for walking on top - rather than a closed building. For that purpose, showboxes were morphed from the wooden platform on different heights, in order to exhibit larger exhibition pieces / drawings. Furthermore, there are "peepholes" for smaller objects (for instance those semi-rotten apples cast in concrete by Haruka at PAO.2). The remaining wooden platform is free for completelyl un-museal uses, following the motto: "sit.play.chill"...

IDEA Sejima´s Micro 21st Century Museum

A suggestion from Hiroko (Tokyo): Kazuyo Sejima´s "Museum for the 21st Century" is in fact a number of small museum spaces in one large box, a collection of many "Micro Museums" within one big circle. These small museum boxes show up - as usual with all SANAA designs - in maximum abstraction and artificiality, almost unreal.

IDEA Alise´s Two Birds with One Stone

The idea of using the existing slope seemed rather tempting - since that would make the object accessible or at least visible from the street. Regarding "Mode"/"Functionality" of the potential museum, here comes a chain of thoughts on the theme of "Killing two birds with one stone": 1) Using 2 simple elements - a 3D "shelf" and a 2D "surface" (both for exhibiting purposes). 2) Combinations of the elements creating different spaces (inside, outside) and functionality (shelf, wall, path, seat, doorway, etc). 3) "Killing the two bird with one stone" - exhibiting the PAO-objects (the functionality of the elements) and exhibiting the museum itself (through the combination/form of the elements). Added a summary of first quick sketches, but idea can/must be developed further.

IDEA Micha´s Cigar

The smokers choice: Considering the site the slope is the best place. This is a refined version of the "beam" cantilevering 12.5 metres. The whole tube works as a frame-work (see section). Hence the 10 metres span between the abutments are possible. There are two version: either the entrance is on a side wall or on front.

REFERENCE Wooden Platform

This project by Dresden´s architecture taskforce "plan B" shows a simple way for creating a wooden deck. Such an idea for a wooden platform came up in the one or another proposal previously shown in this blog (e.g. Eric´s "Paorcelona Pavillion", or the "Four Containers Museum"). - This garden design for Dresden´s Sonnenstrahl Clinic was easy to build and reasonable in terms of costs and materials too (~1.000€). Basically it consisted of a gravel-bed foundation, solid timber bars as major lead-bearing structure, and a surface-cladding of treated lark panels. It took three people 1 1/2 day to accomplish it. Finally, an image was created of a wooden island floating in the garden - to be used a playground as well as a party floor.

REFERENCE Textile concrete

During the PAO.2 session in 2006, we did several promising experiments: How to bring concrete on free-shaped textile surfaces? Although being heavily experimental, these tests were very promising. By a technique of repeated concrete-coating (or painting), practially every warped or twisted surface could get "consolidated". That way, increasingly solid shells started to "grow". At the beginning the shells had the stiffness of an egg-shell, later on that of a real concrete panel.

IDEA 5th of 4

5th of 4 is a continuation of the cubes of pao2. After 1x1m, 2x2m, .. follows 6x6m (5x5m left out, was pao3 ... too small). A wooden construction creates a cube with two possible walkable levels. The upper level is considered to be a mezzanine. That gives a spacial variety for the presentation of objects of different sizes. It can be reached by a ladder. The inside of the outer walls is proposed to be a big shelf or display for the objects. The exterior between the framework is open and free to be "played" with. The proposal is meant to be schematic and to be seen only as a structure to bear a lot. MiG

IDEA Micha remarks on container usage

Good morning. Hardly pondered on the usage of the containers. Conclusions: - The contis are crooked, warped, inclined - Thus full of "unpleasantnesses" that must be dealed with - Big afford is necessary only to prepare the contis for further use - It is difficult to fix something easily on steel (try to nail or drill) - Substructures for new facades are almost as big as build a new construction (see 1 Matchbox) - Alll points to fix something have to made by a metal workshop in advance - A new stabilising system might be necessary after removing all old rotten wood - Most important: The space is not sufficient. Horizontal: 1.85m wide, 2m high (with new flooring remain only 1.8m) vertical : floor area 1.85x2m, 3.8m high (nice, but nevertheless to less floor area) > A lot of "Rumdoktern ohne aussicht auf heilung"

REFERENCE Lattice Works

From the first PAO workshop on, all kinds of lattice works were tested. Easy to make, those lattices allow for a number of "special effects": (1) As spatial partitions, they virtually become filters, semi-open walls; (2) As furniture, the lattices allow for free arrangement of plates or boards within the multiple row of slits; (3) the lattices function as "guiding lines" ("sliding lines") for moveable sections of a building. With them it becomes possible to open certain parts of an enclosure without using windows or hinged doors. The principle reminds the way that you sometimes lock your fingers, or cross them as if praying.

IDEA Micha´s remark on the "Micro Museum"

A simple question arose: Does not a museum mean exhibition? So: Will the museum be the exhibit? (...a sculpture) or: Will the museum be filled with exhibits? (...a space) ... Will it be just an empty shell or structure? Hence an extra interior for museum purposes is required(pedestals, display cases,..) ..sounds too elaborate concerning conditions (time, material, costs,..) and capabilitiesif it shall be as durable (weatherproof) as demanded or: Will the structure be the furniture itself? Something so-called integrated e.g. a walkable shelf... means killing two birds with one stone.

INFO Pao.3 Book is out!

Finally (two months behind schedule!) the PAO3 Book is out! The black, massive volume published by TUDpress presents on 650 pages all works of the 2007 workshop, plus some 70 essays and lectures. Tightly edited, it not only describes site and atmosphere of Pao3, but also discusses in-depth various concepts on architecture, design, and creative thinking. - The handy book can be purchased at any bookseller (ISBN 978-3-940046-84-0, shop delivery starting next week) or directly ordered from paoproject@gmail.com (19,50 €; the shop-price shall be somewhat higher). The edition is limited to 200 copies.

IDEA Eric´s Paorcelona Pavilion

Eric has delivered a bold yet simple design, a kind of lean version of Mies van der Rohe´s Barcelona Pavilion. Two extensive slabs (floor and roof) are being lifted up by the four free-standing container volumes. Of course, there is much "open plan" and a water-pond in the design included. Eric is not fully satisfied yet, as the scheme looks a bit like a swimming-pool / sauna-environment, mostly due to the massive timber beams, the lattice structures, and the shiny blue pool in the center. The starting idea, however, was to equip the single container boxes with different materials and structures (paper walls, bark cover, textile concrete, or the such).

REFERENCE Bark Facades

During the Pao.3 sessions, the Bark (= skin of trees) was a real discovery. We found out how to use it as facade material. By simply knitting it into a wire-mesh, we produced large "coats for architecture". These we used as wrappings for ordinary industrial containers. The sheets of bark were easily fixed with wire mesh on the container structures. The knitting itself was quite much handiwork, but the result was astonishing: very rough, very natural. An organic fur for a building.

IDEA Fusing Pao Techniques and Materials

At PAO, a lot of unconventional techniques regarding materials and ways of construction had been tested during the last years. Not all of them worked out, but some of them are very promising and highly original. Why not using them for the Micro Museum? Perhaps they do not form one single style, but their overall attitude („Experiment!“) is very much PAO. So, this is a stock of experience that we can rely on, a good resource of knowledge that we can use. Perhaps we have no knowhow about Steel-Glass-Architecture and Urban Design, but we have about pavilion buildings as well as „Bark-Facades“, „Textile Architecture“, or „Lattice Structures“. – In order to show what is possible at PAO, some of these techniques and materials shall be introduced on the Pre-Design Blog during the next days.

IDEA Another "Blossom": Transparent Plastic Concrete

Here comes an alternative of Jörn´s "Blossom" scheme: here the focus is on the special material of the exterior walls. They are made of a new material that is currently being investigated at TU Dresden: a seamless combination of transparent plastic (raisin) and concrete. This new and surprising (but technologically somewhat demanding) material could be used for the exterior of the small exhibition cube. In any case, there would be amazing light scenes inside...

IDEA Jörn´s "Blossom"

Jörn presented this idea: A compact box that can be easily unfolded into an open exhibition stage. Title: "Blossom" - because the structure can easily open and close again just like the petals of a flower blossom. There is a peculiar structural system intended: The whole object is supported by one central column. The material for this column should textile-concrete: it allows free-shaping while it has strong load-bearing capacities. - First experiments with textile concrete were done at the Pao.2 Workshop already (see the review 2006 at http://www.pao-project.org/)

INFO Project Talk with Schwabhausen Mayor

Last weekend, a talk was held with the mayor of Schwabhausen regarding Pao.4 and the "Micro Museum". The mayor informed that three additional projects are underway on the area of the former village kindergarden (which will the site for the "Micro Museum" too). Project 1) Refurbishment of the former kindergarden-building into a SENIOR PEOPLE`S CLUB, project 2) installation of a VILLAGE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, project 3) a CHILDRENS PLAYGROUND (outside). For projects 1) and 2) funds are available; construction works may begin in autumn this year. The outside childrens playground is yet not funded, but the idea was agreed upon by the village council. Rather strengthening than disturbing each other, all projects - including the "Micro Museum" - will form a kind of small scale "Culture Forum" for the village. Here comes up a good opportunity to establish a strong point of interest by attracting different types of visitors: elderly peoply, children, tourists, craftsmen and artists. A genuine "Village Hot Spot".

IDEA Check Mate Micro Museum

The containers are mobile. We have transported them already two times all across the village, and further. Why not keeping them "mobile", even when becoming a museum? Imagine a chess play: Here the figures are constantly being moved. The Micro Museum can be a set of "figures" on a kind of chess plate. Then, the Museum can be easily re-arranged, extended, re-designed. New figures (boxes) can enter the game. New forms of exhibition can be tested. Or the museum can go "away" on tour - perhaps to a village festival, to local exhibitions, to culture events... We have to think about how to fix the containers on the different fields of the "chess" plate. Some special kind of foundation, with some special fixtures for the boxes (screws, bolts, or the like).

IDEA Two "Beam" Variations

These are visual "comments" to Micha´s Beam ideas: How to support the floating boxes, how to put the "Legs" under the containers? Two images / idea: 1) The "Centiped" - a criss-cross of legs, and 2) the "Whale" - a staccato of thin poles.

IDEA Matchbox Museum

Idea from Joerg: "Matchbox Museum". Last year we had this one tower called "1 Match Box" ... So why not making this years Micro Museum easy to handle - just like a Matchbox? The four containers can be viewed as Matchboxes: For opening & closing the Museum - just pull. Pull out exhibition shelves, showboxes, pull out a small stage.

IDEA: Micha´s "Beam"

Today, Micha has brought some ideas: Arranging the steelframes of the existing 4 containers (Pao3 Workshop) as a kind of "walk-through tunnel". The tunnel shall be put titled / a bit diagonal, in order to walk through easily and not banging the head ("Ouch!"). Then, the container-walkthrough may be put on columns, or stilts. Then the museum "jumps off" from the sloping site. Depending on how the "tunnel" is shaped, three options are possible: a) "Beam me up" (straight line going up), b) "Hook" (one container goes off horizontally), c) "Ladder of Success" (one container goes off vertically).

IDEA: Using the 4 Containers of Pao.3 Workshop

Here a simple idea based on the four containers that were used in PAO.3 workshop in 2007 (and which are still available): The four containers to be arranged around a small "square" as showboxes. The "square" may perhaps have an additional roof - thus becoming a playground...

THE SITE

Have a look at the site for the Micromuseum: Got an idea for this place already? - Imagine a small German countryside village (approx. 800 inhabitants) with its houses and cottages. In the middle of the village is the church and around the church the graveyard. Both are, more or less, on a kind of hilltop. The church is visible on the photograph´s background (two times though, as the images were badly mounted). About 30, 40m besides the Church and the graveyard is our site: a kind of park with some nice trees scattered around. The site was formerly used as a kindergarden (the house on the left side).

FIRST STEP: Ideas Collection

Lets do some brainstorming first! For the beginning, we need ideas, ideas, ideas! They can be crazy, wild, unrealistic, strange... Whatever! How do you imagine a "small museum for a small village"? Send notes, sketches, photos ... everything! Comment your ideas directly on this blog (click "Comment" below the posts) - or send them by email to us paoproject@gmail.com Ideas Deadline: June 22nd.

OUR DESIGN TASK: Village Micro Museum

The "Design-to-build" task of PAO.4 is small, simple and cute: A small museum for a small village. We may call it "Village Micro Museum". Simple, unpretentious yet practical. This museum is to contain the works of local artists, children, and of the PAO Workshops. The site of the museum is right in the village centre, besides the church.

INTRO

WHY A DESIGN BLOG? As in the last years, the PAO Architecture Summerschool wants to design and build a small piece of architecture in 2008 too. The location will be Central German Village of Schwabhausen again. The main part of the design must be complete before the workshop begins (August-September). Only that way we can organise the necessary materials, support people, tools etc. in time. Therefore we want to design our "to build" project together in this blog. Most important is that all workshop participants have contributed to the design in advance.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE Everybody who wants to join the PAO.4 Summerschool (or has participated in the last years) can join the "PAO Design Blog". All ideas are welcome. They will be discussed and included in one way or another into the construction project. Send us your own sketches, photos, etc. to paoproject@gmail.com - and we will post them immediately on the PAO Design blog. You can also comment freely about other sketches, notes, and concepts posted on the blog.

HOW THE BLOG WORKS Starting by June, every week the design task will be specified a bit more. Until middle of August, we will collect ideas and review them continuously. Step by step, the ideas must get focused - until we reach a design scheme that we can build.