Artists and designer Michael Jantzen has shared with us his latest utopian pavilion concept, The Transmutation Pavilion. Read more about Jantzen in his insightful 2009 interview with Archinect writer Katya Tylevich.

Project Description:

The Transmutation Pavilion is a design proposal for a large, solar powered, interactive, public, functional art structure. The structure consists of three interlocking cylindrical forms, supported by four horizontal planes, which in turn are supported by eight vertical columns. Each of the cylindrical forms are different sizes, and are woven together one inside of the other, in different directions. Each of the cylindrical forms is fitted with two large, overlapping, sliding curved panels. These panels can be completely closed and/or opened around each of the cylinders so that two of the interwoven spaces can be completely opened, closed, and/or set at hundreds of positions between completely open or completely closed. The center cylinder is oriented in a horizontal position relative to the other two, which wrap around it in two different directions.

As the curved panels are moved around the three different sized and oriented cylinders, they open and/or close the total spacial volume in unexpected ways, which radically change the shape of the structure as well as the views to the outside as seen from within the Transmutation Pavilion. All of this movement is controlled by the random movements of the visitors as they walk around on the glass floor of the inner horizontally positioned cylinder. Many pressure sensitive sensors are mounted in the glass floor. These sensors monitor the movements of the visitors as they move across the floor, and slowly move the curved panels (with small electric motors) around the three cylinders in ever changing patterns.

Various stairs throughout the pavilion allow visitors to explore the structure from many different vantage points as they view the surrounding landscape from ever changing perspectives. All of this is powered by a large solar cell array that is mounted to one of the large curved panels. When energy from the sun for the function of the structure is not needed, the excess is sent into the local grid for use by the community in which the pavilion is built.

The Transmutation Pavilion is just one is a series of my design studies that explore ways in which the built environment can become more responsive to our needs and/or desires, and do so in an eco-friendly way.

All images courtesy of Michael Jantzen.