Tag Heuer Pavilion 1994 - 2001 | Ottavio Di Blasi

This design was the winning project of an international competition. It consists of a completely modular structure on two floors, that can be modified over time. The building can be assembled in only two weeks, with no need for scaffolding or mechanical cranes, and it is designed to last at least five years. The arches, both structural and symbolic elements of the design, create a structural closed and independent system that can be used on any surface, with no need for bases or supports. Every single steel tube is tensed with a load of 4.000 kg. The juxtaposition of the horizontally interconnected arches resolves the lateral stability of the structure, which is the most important structural challenge of lightweight structures such as this one. The technology behind the carbon fiber compounds is usually associated with the aeronautical and sail boat industry, rather than architecture. This was the first time that such technology was used in the construction of a building, the choice of carbon fiber as our central design element reflecting the Tag Heuer’s avant-garde technology. The outside layer of the building is composed of maple wood panels interwoven by a stainless steel frame. All the panels are mechanically fixed, both on the inside and the outside, in order to facilitate the assembly process and the substitution of parts for maintenance purposes. The pavilion is designed to be modified over time, adapting to future necessities without compromising the intrinsic original nature of the design. It is truly the representation of a still image of precision and movement.