piuarch composes ENEL pavilion at expo milan as a virtual forest
all images courtesy of andrea martiradonna

 

 

 

milan-based architecture studio piuarch has designed the expo milan‘s ENEL pavilion as virtual forest, comprising 650 polycarbonate vectors that express the innovation of a smart grid. at the core of the installation is a lighting system, which makes the beams aesthetically similar to the nerve endings of an organism in constant flux. the arrangement of these ceaselessly-shifting, luminous vertical elements defines the volume that encompasses a series of internal areas and green courtyards. 

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
650 polycarbonate vectors express the innovation of a smart grid

 

 

 

the pavilion occupies an area of 900 square meters overlooking the decumano, both conceptually and structurally a grid which can be seen on the ground. this network is spread across the floor and forms an undulating pattern. a series of LED lights placed on the grid, and the varying heights of the tubes, generates a dynamic and kinetic sequence and vibration of activity. the alignment and overlapping of the vertical elements produces a continuous change of the visitors’ perception of the space. the entirety of the system is powered by energy obtained from photovoltaic panels installed on the pavilion façade.

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
a lighting system makes the beams aesthetically similar to nerve endings in constant flux

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
the pavilion occupies an area of 900 square meters overlooking the decumano at the expo

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
the arrangement of the luminous vertical elements defines an external volume

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
the beams vary in height around the expo site 

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
internal areas are encompassed by the glowing vertical beams 

piuarch enel pavilion expo milan
the alignment of the vertical elements produces a continuous change of the perception of the space

 

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