Horror Vacui – Urban Implosions

1. DATA
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Place /Date
___Portuguese Pavilion, Lisbon, Portugal
___2007 (Built)
Clients
___NAi – Netherlands Architecture Institute
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2. DESCRIPTION
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Invited by curator Hans Ibelings and the Netherlands Architecture Institute / NAi, ReD designed the “Horror Vacui – Urban Implosions” exhibition, which was presented at the 1st Lisbon Architectural Triennal as the official representation of the Netherlands. The theme of the exhibition -Horror vacui- refers to the idea of the fear of emptiness, and has roots in visual arts history. In the field of architecture and the city in particular, the curator describes it as a concept that represents a model of growth towards the full occupation of empty spaces (not expansion), which illustrates the process undertaken by the construction of cities in Holland.
Considering this theme, ReD’s installation proposes the full occupation of the space assigned to the Dutch representation, with a light and thin tubular aluminum structure with 300 meter length, which configuration responds to an imaginary volumetric construction, abstractly related to those populating cities. Beyond its reference to the theme of the exhibition, this structure organizes the entire space of the show as well. It is a single continuous line with 300 meters length, which through its orthogonal movements, generates the support for all the exhibition contents: physical models and panels with photographic images and drawings.
Given its material characteristics and dimensions, the structure occupies the space without imposing any visual subdivision and, because it is hollowed, it hides inside the whole electrical installation. The only elements that partially interrupt this view are the exhibition panels, which are naturally meant to be observed. Considering its scale, the structure can be traversed in several directions permitting many possible visiting trajectories. By visually framing the visitors all around, the installation integrates them as part of the overall spatial scenography.

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3. CREDITS
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Architecture
___ReD, Research+Design

Design Team
___M. Malé-Alemany
___J. Pedro Sousa

Collaboration
___João Palaio Albuquerque

Production
___Procedes (Barcelona, Spain)
___Daniel Pinto (Oporto, Portugal)
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4. PROJECT IMAGES
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Figure 01: Horror_VACUI render
(Photo Credits: Inês d'Orey / ALMAMATE)
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Figure 02: Exhibition's image
(Photo Credits: Inês d'Orey / ALMAMATE)
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Figure 03: Exhibition's image
(Image Credits: ReD)