Articulated Timber Ground
In the last few years there has been an open discussion about making as a mean of learning. While theory is an important part of every subject, practice puts everything in a new light, offering important insight on how the theory applies in real life. This was the idea behind the Student Design Competition of Melbourne based studio Power to Make. After a six weeks work period, a winning design was chosen, which was later built with the help of all 14 participants.
Aerial view of pavilion
The result was a small pavilion that has multiple uses with it’s main characteristic being adaptability. Thanks to the smart “joints” that incorporate industrial rubber, the structure made of 1752 components can change it’s shape and can adapt to different body positions, from sitting to lounge. A series of tests have been made by the University of Melbourne’s Engineering Department in order to make sure the structure is safe for use as furniture, and to test its response to load bearing. ”The design of the pavilion is a complex relationship between structural, material, fabrication and ergonomic constraints.” – the coordinator of the project has stated.
Roof detail against the sky
By Cristina Juc
Project Info:
Architect: Power to Make + LLDS
Location: Melbourne, AU
Status: Built
Firm Role: Studio leader
Additional Credits: Participating students: Norhasnani Azman, Farheen Dossa, Jack Hinkson, Rachel Low, Siavash Malek, Amanda Ngieng, Ridho Prawiro, On On Tam, William Varrenti, Bo Woon Wong, Bingquan Zhang, Qingyue Zhang, Jia Jia Zheng, Shaobo Zhu
Structural Consultant: John Bahoric
Sponsors: Maxi Plywood, Melbourne School of Design and Power to Make.
Cristina Juc is passionate about the intersection of technology, design, and architecture. A former Assistant Editor and Writing Intern at Arch2O, she contributed insightful content exploring innovation in the built environment. Her involvement in events like the Transylvania Biennial of Architecture reflects her ongoing commitment to architectural discourse. Currently the Executive Director at Spherik Accelerator, Cristina supports startups driving change across creative and tech industries. With a background in community building and educational tech, she continues to champion forward-thinking solutions that shape how we design, build, and experience space.