‘Eolas’ is the Gaelic word for knowledge. This traveling pavilion aspires to promote the Festival of Architecture 2016 and to travel to all areas of the Glasgow Chapter, but more importantly reach as much people as possible from all different backgrounds. The design and build of the project was delivered through a commission from the Glasgow Institute of Architects to architecture Student Paul Pointon from Strathclyde University who delivered the project in a 6 month programme. The GIA functional brief for the pavilion was simple: a place where things can happen, but it should be also able to provide essential information about the events, exhibitions, and a mobile architectural salon.
The pavilion has been touring Scotland during the month on March, staying at each of them forone week; Kilcreggan – Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust, Dumfries – The Stove Network, Coll - An Cridhe. Upon arrival, the local community group or organisation has taken up management and programming of a wide range of events around the pavilion that has acted as a catalyst to celebrate the Festival of Architecture 2016. From the 28th April the pavilion will be permanently sited on the Glasgow Collective premises and will be featured on a number of up and coming events.
In addition, the Eolas Travelling Pavilion is an information gathering tool, collecting valuable information from the communities where it has been and allowing them to answer a few simple questions to identify spaces needed within their community by analysing the information gathered.
The Eolas Pavilion is a pure, simple black volume - a compact 1.7m x 3.1m x 3m - which acts as a large scale intervention inviting curious residents in from the local community. As users move around the box, the rhythm of the vertical battens change.
The tightest spacing articulates opaque walls; the larger gaps, backed by translucent poly carbonate allows light and views to filter through; and the widest openings allows signage and offers windows displaying the community fuelled piece of art, an analogue information gathering workshop, showcasing the interest within and encouraging eager community members to enter.
During the day, the invitation becomes more pronounced when two walls pivot open, removing the corners of the pavilion and welcoming people inside or to gather around the front. Users can choose to enter the pavilion to interact with the information gathering workshops within, enquiring about their built environment, or choose to interact with the events happening around it.
Attachable and detachable by a hook system, bespoke pieces of plywood furniture adorn the pavilions exterior, allowing the black abstract volume to transform into a back drop for various community events.
To make this project possible, the Glasgow Institute of Architects engaged with Paul Pointon from Strathclyde University to collaborate, design and build the project as part of his fifth year thesis, the MAKlab who provided much needed workshop, machinery and technical support and Woolgar Hunter who provided structural engineering advice.
