PORTABLE + PAVILION = PORTAVILION

... just briefly before visiting Tate Modern in London some days ago, I had spotted an article about an inflatable, 100 % mobile pavilion in a magazine or a newspaper, can't remember, and all of a sudden, in Tate Modern's wonderful Turbine Hall, there it was - ROSY, the 2010 Portavilion designed by the Berlin-based art/architecture collective raumlaborberlin.


I have already and quite extensively commented on my fascination for and perception of the per se temporary, futile, "on the run" nature of the pavilion.


The origins of the word "pavilion" go back to the French term "papillon" - butterfly. Now it's here, but a second later it may have spread its wings and be gone.


Now, the Portavilion concept, launched by UP Projects in 2008 and curated by Emma Underhill, really respects this futile nature by commissioning temporary venues for a colourful summer entertainment programme (a map and schedule is online here).

The Portavilion ROSY, through its inflatable nature, is so mobile and transportable that it really incarnates a quite ideal form of pavilion.

the interior of Jean Nouvel's pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery pavilion series,
via serpentinegallery.org, © Jean Nouvel

That said, when I was there, London was eagerly awaiting the inauguration of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2010 (takes place on July 10), designed by Jean Nouvel. A temporary construction, too, which comes complete with table-tennis tables and benches. These Londoners really are an assiduous and clever bunch of park-goers and city users ...

Oslo architecture

... Paris - Vienne - Oslo. Tel est mon parcours ces jours-ci. Et tout à fait dépourvu de mode. Enfin bon, de toute façon ce n'est pas l'objectif de mon voyage. Même si je "keep my eyes open", comme on dit. Oslo, un vrai must-see : l'opéra, un projet des architectes Snöhetta. Formidable !

Une exposition des plus importants projets d'architecture et de design du studio est à voir actuellement dans le musée national d'architecture et de design à Oslo, jusqu'au 13 septembre. En 2007, par exemple, Kjetil Thorsen de Snöhetta était co-responsable, avec Mr. Eliasson, du pavillon réalisé dans le cadre du programme de Serpentine Gallery à Londres.

Et un peu de mode, tout de même : c'était lors de l'invitation à Oslo pour l'ouverture du nouvel opéra l'année dernière que Angela Merkel a été impliquée dans la fameuse affaire du Cleavagegate...